by Eddie Pipkin
It’s that time of year when we are either eager to give gifts or compelled to give gifts or, most likely, experiencing both compulsion and obligation in the giving of gifts, depending on the recipient. There are people we have been excited about sharing our gift with for months – we can’t wait to see them rip that wrapping paper off! And there are people we feel duty-bound to acknowledge – they are still on our to-do list with 24 hours to go! You’ve probably taken care of all your Christmas gift shopping by the time you read this blog, but we’ll take a moment to consider the philosophical implications of giving people gifts and the potential pitfalls of generosity gone wrong, especially those ministry partners and casual colleagues.
Even among our family and friends, gift giving as an expression of the spirit of the holiday season can be a fraught undertaking. Some people are easy and fun to buy for: we know them, their interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes. Some people pose a tricky challenge: we really don’t know them that well at all, but we feel that we need to acknowledge them in a heartfelt