Bring a gift to the value of $5...

At some of the Christmas functions Cindy has attended, people were asked to bring a gift to the value of $5. Eventually each person takes a gift home that someone else has brought along. Sometimes these gifts are carefully selected while some others are obviously recycled from previous years.

Cindy has never been overly keen on this custom, until something happened for her this week. A person she knew reasonably well was opening their gift and commented to Cindy that each year they were the only gifts they receive for Christmas. Their obvious joy in opening the little $5 gift touched Cindy's heart. She became aware of how many people, through many differing circumstances, simply do not receive Christmas gifts.

St Michael's has a custom at Christmas of families bringing along to the church gifts for needy families. They are all gathered during Advent and taken to a suitable place for distribution. Hundreds of gifts come in each year - some marked whether they are suitable for a boy or girl and the approximate age group.

While contemplating the isolation in some people's lives, Cindy has a thought that is the message she would like to leave with you over the Christmas break.

Our real home is the skin we live in, the tent God has given each one of us as our home for our journey through life.

If we are not happy with our inner 'home' then no matter where we live - we shall always be restless. Making major changes to our homes or moving to different locations may satisfy us in some ways, but the basic fact remains that if we are not happy in our own skin then we are not likely to be happy should we live in a human palace of luxury.

We can live in the home of our dreams with every modern convenience, yet have a heart and spirit dying of poverty.

Cindy suggests whoever you are, wherever you live — please take some time this Christmas to ponder your inner self. The Christ Child lay in a smelly manger, no opulent reception for this king. But always — Christ was happy in his own skin right through his life. In his public life Jesus wandered around the countryside with his friends. He did not go home every night and close the door on the outside world.

Our bodies are sacred. We are made in the image of God. We bring the Face of God to one another. Physical looks mean little. It is the spirit, soul, voice and eyes within the body that change the world.

Remember, we are spiritual beings on a human journey and Christmas is a good time to reacquaint ourselves with the person who lives in our skin.

Blessings until the New Year,

Cindy

Cindy the Sacristan is the pseudonym of one of the long-time members of our community. In real life she has spent many years in a voluntary capacity as sacristan in a large outer suburban parish.

We welcome your thoughts in response to this column in our forum.

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