I woke up this morning to two interesting news reports on how Americans are currently dealing with stress. A University of Michigan report found that Americans are increasingly turning to comfort foods such as chocolate and candy bars, as well as cigarettes to “help them deal with stress.”
In a separate news paper article, I learned that radio stations are moving to a Christmas music format sooner this year in order to help ease the stress and bring “happy” feelings to listeners. One radio station in Detroit has been playing around-the-clock Christmas music since November 5th this year—and the feedback is very merry. The VP of programming at the station said, “the positive feedback outweighs the negative 10 to one…As crazy as things have gotten, they’re ready for warm, happy feeling as soon as they can get them.”
I can identify with both reports. My husband ran into a friend of ours a week ago whom we hadn’t seen in a while. To my husband’s surprise, he was smoking a cigarette. “I thought you quit four years ago,” my husband said. “Stress, man…stress,” was this friend’s reply.
At the same time, longing for those extra-warm and fuzzy, cheery feelings the Christmas season brings, my five year-old daughter has been playing around-the-clock Christmas music in her room since the day her 10 month-old brother pulled a Christmas CD off the shelf the first week in November. “Christmas is almost here, Mommy. Ooh…I can’t wait!”
The reality is that stress is a fact of life with which every person must cope. And there’s nothing wrong with a crutch. We use crutches everyday to help heal from a strained muscle or broken bone. So what’s wrong with using a “crutch” while we heal from emotional pain? We just need to make sure our crutch is healthy and beneficial for us overall.
This year, over 100 radio stations across the nation will go to an all-Christmas format by early December. The radio industry has learned first-hand that playing Christmas music helps individuals feel happy and more peace and good will toward men. That’s great. Now if only we in the Christian community can get people to accept the Christ in Christmas, people can rely less on chocolate and cigarettes and experience the inner joy and peace that Christ offers all year long.
Copyright ©2004 by Anita S. Lane
1 comment:
I find the writings of Anita Lane to be very refreshing, warm and cozy, uplifting and thought provoking. I look forward to reading her blogs as soon as they are posted!!!
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