So How Was Your Christmas? A Day Full of Emotion? By Trevor Thorn

 

 IT - The big IT of the year is already a month past. How do you remember it? Was it a relief amidst the gloom? Was it a day that emphasised the 'Winter of Isolation’? Was it a unique celebration that brought a thankfulness for a quiet day to reflect on ‘The True Meaning of Christmas?

In my last ACW spot on 28th December, I suggested that as a sort of federation of writers, it would be good if we could capture our thoughts of the way this unique Christmas (we hope) had played out for us. It wasn’t intended that the exercise should be co-ordinated in any way but that we used our writing skills to simply record the nature of the day so that in years to come we had a touchstone to remind us of little details to tell friends and possibly younger relations how it had been. A sort of one-day journal really.

Having made the suggestion, I turned my hand to the task with some gratitude that my preferred genre is poetry and if possible at least a touch of humour.

However, a couple of hours in, I regretted deciding on a limerick-style framework, it all felt too serious for such a normally light-hearted pattern. But I was too far committed, (or was it too much of a coward?) to tear it up and start again. I journalled on!

So here is where I’ve got to. I still regard it as a Work in Progress, as further recollections come to me. Why did it feel important to flame the Christmas pudding with only the two of us? Why did we delay opening presents as if we were to be joined later by young children swooping in for tea?

It feels as if there is more to record, but, of course with every day that passes I know well that the memory will “improve’ the core story. So maybe I should set myself a deadline for when the idea gathering ends and serious editing takes over. Then at least it will bring the disciplines we all know we should follow, to bear.

For those who might have taken up the challenge, perhaps a time for you to review too and perhaps ask the question, ‘Did this Christmas add anything to your understanding of the meaning of the coming of Christ.

CHRISTMAS CONTRASTS 2020

 

Background

This Christmas was full of sad news

Every newscast seemed filled with the blues

It was no laughing matter

That a virus could batter

The season we’d least like to lose.

 

Many medics to patients, brought hope, 

though so near the end of their rope,

for their wards overflowed

with appalling caseloads -

deaths making it so hard to cope.

 

Home Aspects

Friends and family, so sad – distancing.

It was hard not to have carolling. 

But ‘twas soon very plain

we’d be locked down again,

with Covid’s relentless rampaging.

 

At home, as we weren’t going out,

Our kitchen turned splendid lookout

On our well-stocked bird feeders

drawing gorgeous small creatures,

scarce seen when we’re ‘out and about’.

 

Of our very few treats, this was top -

A trip to our local farm shop!

We felt sure it was germ-free

a good place to buy veggies;

Christmas brussels from fresh local crops!

 

Oh! our turkey was generous in size

A veritable feast for the eyes

It was bought to serve eight

But with just our two plates,

overs made us think, NOW! – let’s be food-wise.

 

Community

Months before we had learned program Zoom,

Could often help mitigate gloom,

With distanced quiz nights,

And worship despite

Numbers curbed in church, chapels or rooms.

 

Christmas day then, we gathered on screen

To re-live the Bethlehem scene,

When God become child

In location wild

A stable – no place to be weaned.

 

Wider Contrasts

Our angels galore were a sight

Midst the tree lights, so vivid and bright;

Glowing more than past years,

antidotes to our fears;

Gleaming symbols of hope in the night 

 

At the solstice two planets aligned:

Could it be such conjunction that signed

The way of the wise men

To Jesus in Beth’lem?

Then a dream, their way home redefined.

 

Was a jolt for us, eating, to know 

That millions had had to forego

Any food celebration

Yes! HERE in our nation!

So let’s pray such contrasts might go.