| Saturday | 2004-12-25 |
| Christmas
Day |
|
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.
Ginger:
