Merry Mayhem!

 

The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Not shown --Bin Sie and Syd 

We have two contributors for today's blog. Jim shared the above picture of the lunch bunch having a get-together at Zanzibar before it closes for good.

Pam wrote about her adventures by plane and taxi. 

Merry Mayhem!

What is it about the month of December that causes normally rational people to go off the rails?

Well, I have a theory about that, but I will tell you my tale first.

I recently took my first ever trip to Calgary with a 48hr. turn-a-round, to deliver an 18^th birthday gift to my granddaughter; this being the only window of opportunity in all our calendars. I congratulated myself on my foresight in purchasing and packing their Christmas gifts to take with me, as Canada Post was about to go on strike.

However, it was a very tight “fit” for me, as I had agreed to sing at the concert at St. Paul’s church on the afternoon of my return.

The trip to Calgary was lovely, I hit a chinook and felt very overdressed in my winter clothes, so I was lulled into a sense that all was well and relaxed for the first time in several busy months!

So the first indicator to the contrary started after boarding the plane for home.

For some strange reason the pilot decided to de-ice the plane before take off. Strange, in that the plane had come from L.A., and Calgary was around 10C and sunny, so a delay of 15mins before take off. Then as we arrived in Victoria the pilot turned off the engines, the reason being that there was an engine issue which needed a cool down before we could dock!

I started to feel my blood pressure rising with stress, as I realised that I may not make the concert on time. But five minutes later we docked, and I flew into action with one last hope to make it in time.

 I had devised a plan when booking, I had the aisle seat on row 10, and immediately retrieved my backpack from the overhead bin and proceeded to excuse myself to get to the front, to get off ASAP.

I ran to the Terminal exit and fell into the first cab! I was determined to do everything possible to fulfil my promise!

Well, Murphy was alive and well! And I found out quickly that in my hurry, I had dropped my small purse, which contained everything! No money, no credit card, no keys for my house or car!

I directed the driver back to the airport right away, and West Jet personnel were able to retrieve my purse in about 15 long minutes, Hallelujah!

So back to the cab…The concert had started late, and I got there about half way through the performance!

What in the world possessed me to ever think that this was a good plan!

But we do it all the time, especially in December. The worldly pressures are all around us, from without and within! We are propelled into this craziness, the advertising, media hype, deadlines, all the shopping, baking, parties: the deadline being Dec. 24^th!

The only thing all this busyness accomplishes is stress! By the time Christmas rolls around we are exhausted and burnt out. Stop the merry-go-round, I want to get off!

And yet, we say we do this to celebrate the coming of the Christ child, the Prince of Peace!

Oh how I long for that Peace.

“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given”

Lesson learned;  I am resolved to resist those pressures that seek to rob me of the coming of the Christ Child.

Ed. Note:  Thanks to Pam and Jim for giving me a week off!