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Where are the
days
that the light of the christmastree
reflected in my eyes
and I saw plain innocense
mirrored in the silver ornaments?
Only a few
years later
my clear voice sounded through the
large church
with the beautiful angels beside
the altar.
The year that they were taken away
I was allowed to lay the large baby
Jesus
in the humansized
christmasscene.
We were all very aware of
the Cold War
and for the first time the
chaplain preached
about the harsh realities in
other countries,
instead of joy and
abundance.
People thought he was doing the
wrong thing
by taking away their feelings
of
being absorbed in Christmas' cheer
and silent
footsteps in the snow.
It was the first
year
the christmascake didn't taste as
well,
because I couldn't share it
with all
those children
that were poor, and lived in
war.
Times went by.
Some years I
walked through the snow with my dad,
one
christmas I conducted the children's
service.
I remember laying the table for
friends
while feeling that deep hole inside
me
of the loss of my daughter and
gram.
Years passed with babies on my
arm
and years that 12months
seemed to have
disappeared
because there was so much to
do.
I've known abundance.
I was always
grateful.
This year will be a silent
christmas.
No need to invite people,
as we
have barely enough simple food
to share among
ourselves.
Sinterklaas went by
with only a
sweet for the youngest,
and Santa sure won't
stop in our part of the world.
It's
sad.
But in a way I don't
mind.
Because I'm so very angry.
People
neglected
the people of Pakistan
after the
earthquake of october 4.
Now already many more
thousands
have died because of the
winter.
They have no shelter at
all.
So when singing
about the
child in the manger
think of the babies
dying
in the icecold night.
Because too few
people bothered,
to give some money for tents
and blankets.
Jesus was lucky.
His
parents were well fed.
and even though it was
in a stable
they had a warm place to
stay
and shepherds caring.
I am angry,
because people tell
me they want peace
and keep the energy
of
hatred, racism and war going.
They're just
the same
as those people denying Mary a place
to rest,
we too keep asylumseekers away from
the porch.
We too have our opinions ready
before we even take the time to see
who
the person is we're talking about.
I feel
like the chaplain of my childhood.
I have to
speak out.
Because it's easy to wish
peace
to your neighbour.
But you should
reach
far beyond the borders of your own
existence.
Jesus said:
"what you do
unto others, you do unto me."
Isn't that an
interesting theme for this year?
I
wish you very happy christmasdays
with the
blessing of inner rest and peace.
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