| Saturday |
2004-12-25
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Christmas
Day
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09:46
So it's Christmas again.
I was up early and into the cattery at 05:30 to clean out cat cages and
feed the cats. Most of them are so friendly and a pleasure to handle,
but there are always a few who are really grumpy. I guess they're like
the human species! But my favourite is a kitten called Ginger. He is
into absolutely everything and so full of energy. There's a picture of
him below.
Didn't quite finish the cleaning, but had to pack it in at 06:45 as I
had to have my shave and wash and my breakfast and then leave for
Church at 07:15. Needed to get there early to get a decent seat. I was
a bit sad that I could not play the organ this morning. I was so
looking foward to it. But it was decided to use the band instead. I did
offer to play with the band but that didn't seem to have been taken up.
I just felt that the organ is so much a part of worship on a Christmas
morning! I had some beautiful music to play from some of John
Peterson's Christmas Cantatas.
Grant preached at the service. His message was about thinking of Christ
during our Christmas rushes. He started by asking if it was anybody's
birthday today. Somebody mentioned Jesus, and then there was somebody
who said it was their birthday today. So Grant asked us to sing "happy
birthday" to Jesus and John.
It reminded me of when I was listening to Cape Talk Radio when I was
getting ready for Church. All day yesterday and this morning, they
played Christmas music but no carols mentioning Jesus. And I was just
thinking how wierd it would be if somebody organized a birthday party
for somebody's birthday, but didn't invite the person concerned. That's
how it feels to me about celebrating Christmas without Christ.
Just a joke Grant told us:
There was a little boy who really hoped to play the part of Joseph in
the school nativity play. But when the parts were given out, Joseph was
given to another boy and he was given the role of inn-keeper. He
rehearsed his part, but was fuming inside and was thinking of how he
could get his revenge. The night of the play arrived. When Joseph
and Mary knocked on the inn-door, the inn-keeper opened it a crack and
looked out with a steely gaze and asked what they wanted. When they
asked for a room, he opened the door wide and invited them in!
Everybody was stunned and Joseph wondered what to do. Then he turned to
Mary and said he would look inside. After looking around he returned to
Mary and said that the inn was a mess and in they not prepared to stay
in such a sty, they would look elsewhere.
Yesterday I was given a crate of bags of surplus tomatoes to hand out
at Church, but during the service I didn't feel happy about it. I
couldn't think why. And then I thought of giving the tomatoes to those
who could really need them. So after the service I first went to the
police station to give them two bags for the prosiner's lunch. The
policeman there gave me a strange look, and then smiled and thanked me.
It was unexpected. THen I drove around Durbanville looking around for
the homeless and give them each a bag of tomatoes. THere were also some
municipal sweepers cleaning the rubbish in the streets, and I gave them
a bag each. I really enjoyed the surprise and the smiles on their
faces. But there was one to mar it, and it really makes you think. One
old woman was looking through the rubbish. I stopped and tooted and
offered her a bag of tomatoes. She took it without the usual smile, and
then promptly asked me if I had a few cents to spare!!!!!! I just
smiled and wished her a happy Christmas and a good day.
Well, now I am at home typing on my computer. The only hassle is I am
home alone today. My partner, Glen, is still in prison. I really wish
he could be with me today and share our love for each other and our
love for Christ. They usually get a special lunch on Christmas Day and
New Year's Day. Today they are going to be given meat and a fire will
be lit and they will be able to have a braai. I actually asked if I
could spend the weekend in prison with Glen, but they wouldn't allow
it. :<)
I have been remembering previous Christmases. Last Christmas at the
last moment I was invited to lunch with some good friends of mine,
Willie and Graham, at a holiday cottage in Grotto Bay. It was really
special. The previous three Christmases I was in prison, and then
before that I was invited by some folk at Church to share the day with
their children and grandchildren. Another special Christmas was an
open-house bring-and-share at the home of a gay couple from the Good
Hope MCC in Cape Town. I also remember Christmases when I used to take
children out for holidays and we used to end us at my sister's (Carol
& Barry) in George. I also fondly remember one of the boys, my
favourite, Jason, who offered to be the one to give my parents a gift
of some birdseed. When my parents unwrapped it, he went out and brought
in a canary in a beautiful bamboo cage. His own mother had disappeared.
Then the following Easter he was killed in a car crash. I was devasted
by his death at the time.
But there have been Christmases where I have been desperately lonely.
But today, even though I am alone, I am thinking of Glen and I know
that sometime in the future we will be able to share Christmas
together. We plan to open up the day to inviting lonely people over for
a Christmas lunch with us. It's so nice to be loved and have somebody
to love.
11:25
Glen has just phoned. It was so nice to hear his voice, and to tell
each other that we love each other. He told me that they only got a
small piece of meat to braai and only yellow rice to go with it!
Usually it's a good size piece of meat with roast potatoes and some
salads. He said the ice-cream had just arrived. So the prisoners are
very disappointed. It's definitely better than their normal meal, but
it's a let down when compared to the previous Christmases. It's a pity
that they weren't told about it earlier then they would have at least
expected less. Prisoners already feel quite low on Christmas Day,
and this makes it even worse. Well, at least the prisoners at
Durbanville Police Station are going to get some tomatoes with their
lunch.
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Ginger:
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