Striking A Balance

Christmas is in just a few days and I, like many people I’m sure, are not ready for it.  There are so many things to do: shopping for presents, cards to send, baking, decorating, etc.  There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to get everything done – and the pressure is on – self imposed pressure.

I’ve been reflecting on my experience of Christmas in mission and how different it was.  I was away from family and friends which was difficult.  I missed listening to Christmas Carols on the radio, decorating the Christmas tree, the Christmas specials on TV (we didn’t have TV), shops decorated and offering great bargains, etc.  It didn’t “feel” like Christmas. 

And while I missed all of that, I also received the gift of celebrating Christmas in Sierra Leone.  On Christmas Eve, the choir at Church had a mini “concert” before midnight Mass – and after not having heard any Christmas music the month prior, it was an extra joyous celebration.  After Mass, people would ride in the back of trucks banging pots and pans exclaiming Happy Christmas.  Then we all got up the next morning for Mass on Christmas Day. 

Gift giving was not common.  But I did usually find something small to give to the people I was close to.  And because there was no pressure to give, or expectation to receive, there was genuine joy in giving and gratitude in receiving.

I try not to romanticize Christmas in Sierra Leone – just like I had to learn not to romanticize Christmas back home when I was there.  There is an upside and downside to both.  But I am, at the 11^th hour, trying to strike a balance between the two.

My hope and prayer is that those of us here at home, and our Lay Mission-Helpers who are in mission, will remember that the Spirit of Christmas can be alive no matter where we are – if we get out of the way.

Christmas Tree in Zimbabwe

Be The Eyes, Ears, Hands and Feet

After having emergency surgery for a torn retina last month, I've been slightly preoccupied with my eyes.  I was given the all clear to travel to Tanzania to visit our LMH serving in the Diocese of Mtwara with the advice that if I experienced certain symptoms I was to go to an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.  Easier said than done. 

During my first few days in Tanzania, maybe because it was very bright, I became aware of more floaters in my eye.  I kept swatting the air thinking they were insects.  I became a bit anxious  wondering what I should do?  Am I overreacting and this is nothing?  Should I turn around and fly back home immediately?  Is there anywhere in this country I could go to get checked - and if my retina was tearing again, do they have the sophisticated equipment they have in the US to handle it?  I took a chance and said many prayers that if anything was wrong, it could wait until I got home.

This experience, and my momentary panic, got me thinking beyond myself.  What about the people here?  What would they do?  What could they do?  For the vast majority of people, there is no option – they will lose their sight.  For some, they don’t have the money to pay for tests or operations.  But for most people, even if they did have the money, the services aren’t available.  

Even simple procedures like checking vision in children is not common.  Very few students at Aquinas Secondary School wear glasses.  Do they just have exceptionally good vision?  Or is it because they don’t have optometrists in the area or the money to pay for an exam or glasses even if they did?

So this is what has been on my mind lately.   How unfair it is that I have access to so many services, regardless of whether or not I can afford them, and how unfair it is that so many of our brothers and sisters around the world do without.

What can we do?  Can we look at things with different “eyes”?  After feasting on turkey and the trimmings on Thursday, finding bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we can do something for someone else on Giving Tuesday?  Can we be the eyes, ears, hands and feet of Jesus here on earth?

Give the gift of education, healthcare and social services through the work of Lay Mission-Helpers.  Help us change the world.  http://www.laymissionhelpers.org/giving-tuesday