Can We Talk 2

Christmas Can Be Tough

         I go to church with a woman who is homeless. We have done everything we can for her. We have learned not to give her cash. She is extremely intelligent and had a great memory of world history, etc., but can't handle a budget or her personal affairs. Individuals have given her clothes, food, grocery gift cards. We have sent her to shelters which all fail to meet her standards. She has lived in her car for two years now. We give her blankets and coats. Finally, we convinced her to try the winter shelter provided by local churches. That gives them breakfast and dinner. At least there she can lie down prone with her feet up, so they don't swell. She'll be warm. I hope she will follow the rules and continue there. For Christmas, she has no family or close connections.

         Today my brother's car caught fire. He didn't drive it yesterday, but this morning flames came out from under the hood. He used up two fire extinguishers before the fire department got there. The fire got into the interior. Christmas presents were in the back and got sooty. I am sure he, his wife, and 13-year-old are not particularly joyful today. I may or may not see them tomorrow (they live an hour away).

         I myself am alone. The house was not decorated as usual. I have had shingles. They should be gone by now and they are fading. Apparently, they have escalated into postherpetic neuralgia because of my advanced age. I no longer feel like my waist and lower back are on fire, but I feel like I have an ice pack wrapped around my side. Sometimes it sends a painful twinge making me jump a little with the shock. I guess I'm better off than I was last Christmas when I thought I was dying (different story).

         We're misled by advertisers who would have us believe we can have a joyful, sparkly Christmas if we served all our guests Roche chocolates and toast each other with them. With some beautiful casseroles and a perfect turkey, we can have meaningful, warm family and friend relationships. Peace, happiness and smiles all around can be ours if we just spend our money in the right places and use the right bank.

         Then there's reality. We have diseases, accidents, broken hearts, broken homes, loneliness, homelessness, and even hunger. We don't experience Christmas through parties, meals, presents or decorations. We experience it when we realize that mankind has been saved and shown what love is. We experience Christmas when we share, when we help someone in need. Maybe a handshake or a kind word is what we really need to give.