The hopes and fears of all the years....
I am not a religious person at all...with one exception - Christmas. And in all honesty Christmas for me is not so much about the 'birth of Christ' but more about the season of goodwill to all mankind. I find that the commercialisation of Christmas bothers me more and more as I get older. I guess that the fact that I have worked every Christmas (except two) for the last 18 years probably contributes to that, however, I can still pinpoint my three favourite Christmas experiences -
the first was whilst working in London, I had finished work in South Ken about 11:45pm and was walking over to the bus stop when I passed a church having a late night service - I slipped in the back of the church and joined in the Christmas carols and listened to the bible readings...all very peaceful and just how Christmas
should be.
the second, was in Jordan, Christmas Eve - standing looking down over the down town area...the sky was an azure blue and the lights in the old Amman houses, looked like candles the only variation on the blue/white colour theme were the green striplights on the Mosque minarets I just stood there for about 15 minutes breathing in the crisp, cold air and listening to the church bells and the calls to prayer from the mosques I realised that this would be the closest I would ever get to experiencing a really 'Biblical' Christmas
the third experience was many, many years ago...I was about five and we were living in Algeria at the time. Algeria in the early 70's was not really the best place to buy Christmas gifts...no matter - we lived on the beach, overlooking the Mediterranean, and Christmas presents that year consisted of a plastic bucket and spade for my brother and I...However, being the eldest I was also given reading material....in my stocking I was given a copy of the Bible and a chocolate Santa..When we were younger my brother and I were confined to our bedrooms until such time as my parents woke up and decided to set us free....on this Christmas morning I remember lying on the bedroom floor, reading my Bible and eating my chocolate Santa...and yes, I did get chocolately fingers and I still have the Bible with my Chocolate finger prints all over the first pages of Matthew.
My only Christmassy moment this year was last night at home, cleaning the house and listening to my Christmas Angel Voices...their voices are quite incredible...just beautiful listening. As always...my favourite two carols..."We three kings.." and "O Little town of Bethlehem"
"And Wise Men Came Bearing Gifts" by Tom duBois
the first was whilst working in London, I had finished work in South Ken about 11:45pm and was walking over to the bus stop when I passed a church having a late night service - I slipped in the back of the church and joined in the Christmas carols and listened to the bible readings...all very peaceful and just how Christmas
should be.
the second, was in Jordan, Christmas Eve - standing looking down over the down town area...the sky was an azure blue and the lights in the old Amman houses, looked like candles the only variation on the blue/white colour theme were the green striplights on the Mosque minarets I just stood there for about 15 minutes breathing in the crisp, cold air and listening to the church bells and the calls to prayer from the mosques I realised that this would be the closest I would ever get to experiencing a really 'Biblical' Christmas
the third experience was many, many years ago...I was about five and we were living in Algeria at the time. Algeria in the early 70's was not really the best place to buy Christmas gifts...no matter - we lived on the beach, overlooking the Mediterranean, and Christmas presents that year consisted of a plastic bucket and spade for my brother and I...However, being the eldest I was also given reading material....in my stocking I was given a copy of the Bible and a chocolate Santa..When we were younger my brother and I were confined to our bedrooms until such time as my parents woke up and decided to set us free....on this Christmas morning I remember lying on the bedroom floor, reading my Bible and eating my chocolate Santa...and yes, I did get chocolately fingers and I still have the Bible with my Chocolate finger prints all over the first pages of Matthew.
My only Christmassy moment this year was last night at home, cleaning the house and listening to my Christmas Angel Voices...their voices are quite incredible...just beautiful listening. As always...my favourite two carols..."We three kings.." and "O Little town of Bethlehem"
posted by Madame Chiang at 7:32 pm
1 Comments:
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