Weathering a Christmas Storm

 

Vancouver has had a mild winter so far. Very warm and wet. Christmas Day a storm is in the forecast. We're supposed to get a lot of wind and rain. Which means the power could go out. That would suck on Christmas. Not being able to cook the turkey. Yet we sure won't freeze. Some places back east when the power goes out in winter seniors can freeze. That's why natural gas and natural gas generators are good.

A lot of people are struggling this Christmas so perhaps it would be timely to talk about weathering life's storms. We know a couple where both the husband and the wife work for Canada Post. Their Christmas sucks this year due to the strike.  

Being off work the month before Christmas when times are tough is lousy. We know someone who is spending this Christmas in a homeless shelter and they don't have a drug problem. That sucks. Mental health is a very sensitive issue. 

Sometimes we can get a clean bill of health yet keep repeating the same bad choices that consistently end up in the same place. That's hard on the whole family. 

A good friend of mine is a wealthy professional who just retired only to get divorced and have to go back to work. That sucks. Right when you're ready to retire and travel around the world. Plans change and legal fees quickly eat up hard earned savings. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. 

We've had our share of lousy Christmases in the past. This one is a lot better. Despite the tough times we have a lot to be grateful for. Yet it's been filled with hopes and hesitations. We're not as naive as we once were. I did hit burnout. After Martini Town it was like I ran into a brick wall. My Christmas bonus was gone and I was done with Christmas. Ready for the New Year. 

For me Christmas is usually just something I just want to make it through. I'm grateful when Christmas is over and look forward to the New Year. The New Year represents a fresh start and new hope. An anchor is often used as a symbol for hope. They say hope is an anchor to the soul during life's storms. 

I kind of see hope as a life preserver that helps you float. When times get tough, hope floats. Like the lotus that rises above the muddy water, hope helps us rise above tough times. 

Aside from stress, pressure and road rage, Christmas can also bring an outpouring of good will. With all the invasive panhandlers Christmas can present a dilemma about how to show kindness without promoting misery. The other day I saw an older lady give a panhandler some chocolate from the dollar store.  She had her husband with her and a smile on her face. She looked like a good mother who missed her children.

Back in the day panhandlers used to sit on the ground with a hat in the DTES and on Granville. They weren't aggressive they were passive. That's the difference between meth and heroin. Now they can be in your face aggressive walking to your car from the grocery store as though they're going to rob you. 

Today I saw a panhandler in the parking lot of Superstore. She just looked me in the eye and held back a grin. It was as though she was going to ask for money but already knew the answer. I don't carry cash with me. I always use debit.

That hymn a Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief came to mind. There was something in her eye that caught my attention. She reminded me of Janice Shore. So I bought some chocolate and gave it to her on the way out. It's Christmas Eve for f*ck's sake. Small acts of kindness can go a long way. 

It's important to find a balance. Some of the people from the new addictions centre can be very loud and rude. The police are always thankfully dialing them back. Yet for some they have nowhere else to go. That's the only socializing they get. 

I noticed they were getting some kind of food delivery today. I assume they're having some kind of dinner there on Christmas Day. That kind of thing is worth donating to or volunteering at. We can't do everything but it's important to do something.