So we've had an online conversation about Boxing day. From boxing as a sport (so called - although it seems more like legitimized scrapping with gloves on) to actually putting things in boxes for the poor (its probable origin with money popped in at Christmas and the boxes opened for the poor on St Stephen's day)- the conversation wandered off at various tangents like Boxing day test cricket and the boxes cricketers use to the boxes in which people return unwanted presents. Or just the billions spent on boxing day sales.
Well that's over then. Boxing day is done for as far as 2011 goes. Christmas day too - it was my first in six years that required speaking at Christmas day services - both on Christmas Eve and early on the day proper. I had forgotten how exhausting that is - being the one who has to make sense of it all while the congregation's collective minds wander off to deeper contemplations (getting below the surface meanings for example - like reflecting on what is actually on the inside of the coloured paper hiding their Christmas gifts)- or wondering what the minute to kilogram ratio is for turkeys and hams waiting to be sizzled in various kinds of ovens.
I survived but did not last the day - falling asleep in the afternoon into one of those very deep sleeps that leave you with a sledge hammer feeling for some time. We ended the day walking along Brown's Bay beach - what a delightful place with an intriguing collection of dogs only two of whom were law breakers. Of course the owners looked kind of perplexed by their offering - no sign of the mandatory plastic bags for evidence removal. One young lady looked the other way while engaging in a sea sand cover up exercise with her foot. The other dog owners simply pretended that they were not related to the offending canine who seemed to merge into the sand (colour wise) as did its offering.
Apart from that anomaly, the walk on the beach was great! And today's entertainment included not being able to wake up (recovering from those Christmas sermons no doubt) and getting one of our number packed and loaded into a Naked Bus in Auckland city. Yes you heard - one of our local bus lines - a very cheap one - is called the Naked Bus. Turns out it was well covered and left on time. And then there were four.
So the remaining members of our clan will stick around in Auckland until the new year arrives.
Speaking of new year and resolutions, we have but a few days to come to a resolution on these matters. How many more years will we attempt to lurch into the new year with a better plan for health, fitness, diet and priorities? Truth is - if we don't get fitter etc. we will run out of years sooner than expected. Our Queen's Prince Phillip is 90 and is doing well despite requiring a stent in an artery. Trick is he is a military man and has a fitness regime! O dear.
Looking back on 2011 - it has been quite a journey. We are grateful for a whole new opportunity and look forward to an exciting new year. For many our deepest desire is that there would be some sanity and stability - especially for those whose lives are constantly disturbed by earthquakes, conflicts, and shortages of basic necessities. Our world is relatively simple in comparison to the terrible tragedies that so many have to deal with. Why should we ever complain?
So we come to an end of another year thankful and with hope and determination to be part of the future solutions that are needed - insofar as we can do something to change things.
Here's to a great year.
