Monday 6 December 2010

How lovely are your branches?

The good people of Downpatrick were distraught this week when a sub-standard Christmas tree was erected in the town.  Oh dear.

To be fair the tree was pretty pathetic.  It was a scrawny beast with neither shape nor make - a truly ignoble fir.

In this age of austerity I suppose the council was trying to do the citizens a good turn by getting a Christmas tree from the dump instead of an imported Norwegian job costing thousands.  I mean what do people want - hospitals or Christmas decorations?

To be fair the thing wasn't in a great location. It was plonked between a toilet block and a postbox.  Apparently this was the only place available that wouldn't be a health and safety risk to pedestrians.  And to make absolutely sure that there was no danger they erected a large industrial fence around it.  Season to be jolly?  Somebody was having a laugh.

Thankfully, due the media getting involved there has now been a new tree put up in it's traditional spot in the centre of Downpatrick.  Of course at the moment that area is a construction site but no-one seems too worried about that. 

So everyone goes away happy, all is right with the world, Christmas is Christmas again.

It's amazing how some little things in peoples lives can get them so het up.  Of course it happens to all of us, it happens to me frequently.  I get all riled up about all sorts of nonsense and then other big things don't even register.  I think sometimes it's easier to give out about ineffectual things because we feel at least we have a chance to be heard, to do something about them.  When it comes to the big stuff we have no say.  We don't have control over world politics or famine, or persecution, or the weather.  We don't have the ear of the President or the Queen or the Prime Minister.  We have no-one to give off too about the state of our schools or the deficit or bankers bonuses.  Or do we? Any suggestions?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18

2 comments:

  1. I think that it's really easy for us to consider things too big of a problem and to become discouraged but God gave us prayer and his word! Two amazingly powerful things and there isn't anything that can't be done through him. So why shouldn't we dream big?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amen to that! As the kids sing; 'Our God is a great big God'. Perhaps we should start treating Him that way and not acting like He is puny and insignificant.

    ReplyDelete