Goodwill at Christmas !

 There will be a lot of disappointed people this Christmas.  Carefully made travel plans have been thrown into disarray by the measures necessary to keep us safe from the coronavirus and strict limits have been imposed on where we can go and what we can do.

Last Christmas was also a disappointment.  Raging bush fires devastated many communities and put restrictions on travel.  We shared the misery of those who lost their homes and the appeals that followed were generously supported.

Christmas is supposed to be the season of goodwill.  Traditionally, Christmas dinner is an event which can be described as a " food bonanza ", but some people simply will not have the money to buy anything different from their customary fare.

It is comforting to know that charitable organizations like the Salvation Army and the Smith Family have been distributing food packs to people living a hard life.  In particular, there are presents for children where the necessitiers of life are stretched thin and backing from the community has been generous.

This looks like being a wet Christmas and that will be difficult for the homeless.  A surprising number of people are living out of their cars or seeking whatever shelter they can find when the sun does down.  We find them sleeping under bridges or in city parks, and some ride the trains and use them as mobile homes.

Without the ability to cook food, they are reliant on restaurants and the fast food industry and recent closures due to the virus will have decimated food opportunities.  When we have a Christmas food overload, an offer will usually be gratefully received.

The society of today tends to be anonymous.  We tend to be unaware of who else lives in our street or in nearby apartmentas, but often they are lonely people who keep to themselves.  At best we may exchange a friendly nod when we encounter them in the street, but this festive season is an opportunity to broaden that contact to a more helpful exchange.

In particular, there are many aged people living in the community who face difficulty with tasks like getting their garbage to the kerb on pickup day.  Often they arer surrounded by neighbours who woulsd gladly help, if they were aware that a need existed.

This is a Christmas where many will spend it at home simply because the opportunities to spend it with friends or to travel have been closed off by the need to combat this virus.  It is when we could use the time to broaden our horizons.

A greeting and a friendly smile to the people we mostly ignore could be rewarding.  The spirit of Christmas opens avenues of contact we have never bothered to use.  We may be surprised to find that contact is reciprical  !