One of the hardest things to do in life is to try choosing a present for someone with a lifestyle radically different from your own. It doesn’t mean that one lifestyle is any better or worse than the other, just different. This is often the case when you have a friend who subscribes to a different set of lifestyle choices. So then, if you don’t embrace a naturalist lifestyle, yet aren’t opposed to it either, how do you choose a gift for someone who is an avowed naturalist and a Roman Catholic at the same time? Here are a few thoughts on that.
They Are Not Diametrically Opposed
It may be difficult to understand but naturalism and Catholicism are not diametrically opposed. One is a matter of faith in a Supreme Being and Savior while the other is all about lifestyle choices that have a positive impact on this earth the Creator lent us for our use. While there are some naturalists who espouse a clothes-free way of life, they do not push their choices on anyone.
It is who they are and are happy to be. They come from all walks of life and embrace all world religions yet believe in the concept that less is more. Is that so very different from Christianity? Yes, they don clothing to attend church services and go to work daily, but when in their own element, the clothing comes off. It’s really just that simple!
Finding That One Gift That Brings the Two Together
Since they are Roman Catholics by faith, a good gift to give would be something like sacred art or any statue or crucifix made from natural elements. Some of the lovely wood crosses on holyart.com, for example, are handcrafted from 100% birch wood, so it meets the criteria for both Catholicism and naturalism. It’s natural and it’s a sign of faith!
Obvious Choices to Avoid in Gift Giving
While you can always find something that meets the criteria of both aspects of their lives, there are obvious choices to avoid. You wouldn’t want to give them a warm set of pajamas, for instance, or a set of Nike athletic wear. Shoes may be okay, but Nike sweats are out of the question. Any article of clothing would probably not be a good idea and it might, in fact, be an insult knowing it isn’t something they would wear.
A Final Thought on What They Have in Common
Both naturalists and Catholics believe that all life is sacred. It is a gift in itself to be cherished. Therefore, any gift that expresses your love of life for self and others makes an ideal gift. It could be a contribution in their name to a sustainable organic farm or it could be GMO-free organic heritage seeds for their own garden.
When choosing a gift for anyone whatsoever, the whole point is to find something that is important to them. Since both Catholicism and naturalism are important, then it makes perfect sense to find something like that wooden crucifix fashioned from birch mentioned above that would be acceptable to either or both philosophies. The whole point is to give something your friend will appreciate, and it can be easily done if you take the time to understand who they are and what they are saying.
