Lately I've been pondering how the country folk (city slickers and urban dwellers, too) affected by the January floods will be faring this Christmas: perhaps we would do well to remember them and pop over to GIVEIT to see what needs should be met?
On a quick glance this morning, I see need for an outdoor setting, wheelbarrow, dutch over, whipper-snipper, art materials, vacuum cleaner, a relaxation CD for a single mum with a bub, Coles and Woolworths vouchers, bed sheets... my, so much need; so much opportunity to do a good deed.
On this note, I am always afflicted about which magazines to distribute to people, as they can add to the lament: we're not all as well-off as those people in their pages. My point of contention: do you distribute magazines to women's shelters, for example, in the hope that they will provide some welcome distraction, or do you steer clear of doing this in the event that they should cause a sister to stumble into a hopeless apathy because life isn't a dream, and instead lend a listening ear, a toiletry item or two, a bit of good cheer?
On this note, I am always afflicted about which magazines to distribute to people, as they can add to the lament: we're not all as well-off as those people in their pages. My point of contention: do you distribute magazines to women's shelters, for example, in the hope that they will provide some welcome distraction, or do you steer clear of doing this in the event that they should cause a sister to stumble into a hopeless apathy because life isn't a dream, and instead lend a listening ear, a toiletry item or two, a bit of good cheer?
Looking at Country Style, even though it's aspirational, is rather like losing oneself in a child's storybook, where everything is just lovely: 'Escape the Everyday' into the 'The Land of Dreams', as the coverlines suggest. It's a comfort item. But is it solely created for the privileged, as it is pitched to advertisers, and not to be shared amongst those for whom the $7.95 cover price is an obstacle – as in some secret society of fluffy pillows and Anne Geddes pictures?
I think it's important that we allow each other refuge in such things, so long as they don't stir up jealous/hopeless feelings. But I would like to know your point of view. Paul's, as communicated to the Philippian church, is this: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things."
I think it's important that we allow each other refuge in such things, so long as they don't stir up jealous/hopeless feelings. But I would like to know your point of view. Paul's, as communicated to the Philippian church, is this: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things."
Girl With a Satchel
You're can't win on this topic...I personally love aspirational magazines and I don't pay any attention to the products promoted or the price...I am intelligent enough to know that the magazines need advertisers to survive and what they promote is supporting said advertisers. When you actually read the stories (& not just look at the images, which so many people do) you often find that the home owner has scoured second hand stores or done up hand me downs...things at actually don't cost money...and it is the creativity that has made the space look amazing.
ReplyDeleteYou will always get people who don't appreciate that and say "it's alright for them to live that way, they have money"...people with that attitude will never appreciate that some people love a beautiful home, and they will work towards that - money or not.
This is one of the reasons Footprints magazine exists. It's PERFECT for giving out at women's shelters, young mum's groups, churches, whatever. We deal with real life issues from a positive, wholesome (godly) perspective - recent issues have dealt with a wealth of topics including homelessness, cancer, consumerism, bullying, Asperger's syndrome, and parenting teens. Find out more at www.footprintsaustralia.com. (And at $16 per year for 4 issues, it doesn't break the bank!)
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