CHRISTMAS DAY
25th December 2011
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
V/LINE AND BAALAM
An exchange of correspondence between a Melbourne business man resident in Wallan and V/Line:
Gentlemen, I have been riding on V/line trains daily for the last two years, and the service on the line from Wallan to Melbourne seems to be getting worse every day. I am tired of standing in the aisle for the whole trip. The transportation system is worse than 2,000 years ago.
Yours truly, Patrick Finnegan.
Dear Mr. Finnegan, We received your letter with reference to the shortcomings of our service. You are historically confused. The only mode of transportation 2,000 years ago was by foot.
Sincerely, V/Line.
Gentlemen, I am in receipt of your letter. It is you who are historically confused. See the Book of Numbers in the Bible and the story of Baalam. It tells us that Balaam rode to town on his ass. This, gentlemen, is something I have not been able to do on your train in the last two years!
Yours truly, Patrick Finnegan.
THIS AND THAT (26)
Andrew Neaum
A highlight of this Christmas Season for me was the Carol Concert given in our Church on the 16th December by Sempre Cantare.
This was not just because of the unutterable loveliness of the music, or of its setting (the church glowed beautifully with unanticipated late evening sunshine from usually unnoticed windows), nor was it just the young loveliness of the five girl singers and their guest.
There were two other particular graces. The first of these was the modesty and lack of affectation on the part of the choristers. Not one of them was in anyway a showoff. There was no evidence of what I like to call diva-ticulitis. The second grace was their generosity in giving of their beauty and huge talent not only to the audience (a mere voluntary gold-coin donation was all that was requested for so superb a concert) but also to charity, because what was given (over $500) went to Anglicare.
Whenever, or wherever beauty and charity (love) coincide for us, believing or not, we are in Jesus of Nazareth territory, the kingdom of God is at hand. For me, a passionate believer, it was one of Advent's most blessed and blessing of experiences. Deo gratias.
Highlight two
Another highlight of the season has nothing to do with Christmas at all. I discovered last week that when I cancelled the last part of my nostalgia binge in 2010, the trip back to Tristan da Cunha, I had the foresight to book a voyage there for two in 2012. This being so and all being well, in September next year Diana and I will be boarding a South African Antarctic research vessel, the S A Aghulas, to retrace a voyage made when I was a little boy to the most isolated community in the world. In 1952 I travelled there on a Royal Navy frigate and left in 1956 on a British Petroleum tanker, both those journeys gratis. Not this one I fear, but what is cash? Mere dross!
Round robin
I send to family and friends around the world a "round robin" at Christmas. We also receive and enjoy a good number in return. They keep folk in touch with what is happening, and time and distance attenuated relationships alive to be rekindled if ever circumstances permit. These letters are usually over positive, but none the worse for that. Mine is on the website, a tad sermonic possibly, but there for anyone interested. The previous 25 episodes of this ongoing diary column are also on the web.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
A blessed and happy Christmas to you all from your Clergy, Wardens and Councillors.