And man, at war with man, hears not the love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing!
As I go about my usual Christmas Eve traditions-- last minute errands including card delivering and last spots of shopping (lemons, seeded cobs,
In the afternoon I traipse down to the bus stop like every year at about 2pm, I know exactly how the rest of the day looks. Though not to the minute I know to expect these things: I will catch the bus into Nottingham city centre; I will go to Starbucks, buy a drink, watch the people passing and perhaps reflect on the year (I usually do this with a friend but this year she is spending Christmas in a different city); at 15:30 I will finish up and walk down the hill in town to St Peter's Church and go to the 16:00 Carol service by candlelight, then about 17:30 catch the bus back out of town and home; I will then wrap any last items I bought between the bus and Starbucks, eat dinner and 23:30 back out to midnight mass at my own church in Bramcote. Tomorrow I then expect another sequence of events; I will wake up, open my stocking, breakfast-- after this we would usually go to church again Christmas morning but since losing Josh it's been too painful and also impractical with our ageing (and stubborn) grandma-- AO's (adult offspring-- the term coined by our parents for my siblings and I since the eldest complaining "we're not kids!!", in spite of us still being their kids) will open our main presents with grandma probably eating a few mince pies and a cup of tea; then lunch; mum watches queen's Christmas address; sister's fiance arrives and we play some Christmas games and talk about the day; drive grandma home when sister & fiance leave ~4-5pm; Christmas TV evening. Boxing day, again filled with food, TV and relaxing.
But as I sat in the carol service this year, just 3 hours ago, as we sang It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, I was once again reminded of and touched by the desperate plight of many tonight throughout our world- our world- as they have no plans, facing nothing but uncertainty and fear. These people could right now be running for shelter, that of collapsed buildings where the bullets might not reach. Hopefully all the armed presence has moved from that area by now else they may also be subject to more attacks; bombs, grenades, capture and even execution for not living their captor's cause. If you're still reading, thank you, so many of us want to turn off from the crisis in Aleppo, the boarder-war being faced by those who have managed to flee the city, and the further foreign laws of those so well-traveled and exhausted only to be told there is no room at the inn. This time last year we were, as a country, in the throws of arguments and petitions between the ivory-towered politicians who voted for the air-strikes on Syria. This time we face a similar problem which no one is addressing; the lock down of the war's capital, Aleppo.
I'm sure everyone remembers Aylan Kurdish, a small boy found washed up, drowned, by a stranger, a boy who sparked our countries particular interest in this war, many petitions signed to pledge a room for a Syrian refugee child, or to oppose air strikes or any military action, or to open our boarders to an evacuee scheme. Where are those children now, or their parents? Because there aren't any in Beeston. There aren't any in the East Midlands I'm sure because as a nation (Britain) we love to toot our own trumpets; we would be boasting about our generosity and the massive part we're playing by graciously letting in these children- who else wise face a death sentence. But where are the articles? Where are the TV specials about our vital role with evacuees? And yes I shall refer to them as evacuees, because whilst they are refugees, taking refuge, they actually have no refuge right now. Boarders are closing, boarders are closed and these evacuated people have no where to go. Have we a plague, spreading throughout the European countries? Yes I think so. Intolerance, ignorance.
No, not you nor I can save the world, we are not the saviors, we're the search party. There are things we can do, though, even from the comfort of our secure, safe homes even at Christmas time. The first step is talking about it. I don't intend for you to crowd your Christmas day with talk of refugees, evacuees and dying strangers in a far off land, but I would ask when you next see a picture of a still, grey child, you consider how they have ended up there; if we allowed more in, we could have had more out which would mean less trapped in Aleppo now. Truthfully, we don't know what's happening in there at the moment; who's in control; is there a counter-attack currently; how many sides are fighting in there; how many civilians are still in there; how many civilians have lost their lives in the last few days or weeks? We just don't know.
But alongside talking about it, there are many organisations you can donate to if you feel you could, or would like to or even have the money (I understand the monetary issue with donating, especially at Christmas time having shelled out on decorations and gifts and food and Christmas parties, but if you do feel able to give I will list some charities below). Others of you, who either wish not to give money, or cannot, I would urge to look around the internet on petition.parliament.uk at various petitions currently in circulation and if you see one you agree with, sign it! Some of you may not even need to scour the internet yourself, as social media is very quick to spread the message of petitions set up. The main thing I would advise here is to make sure it's petition.parliament.uk not change.org or another petition based website as they may not be directly (or at all) relayed to the government, and may not have a legally obligated response (petition.parliament.uk give a response at 10,000 signatures, and debated in house of commons at 100,000 signatures). A last, very simple step you could take right now, reading this, is to share this post with your friends, or perhaps when you find a petition you agree with, share that. But in the certainty of your plans this holiday, remember those who are out of place, out of plans and possibly, out of time.
Another cause I feel a need to relay at this time of year as often as any, is mental illness and suicide awareness around the holidays. There are plenty of people in this country who are trapped in the battlefield of their own minds, or battles of an abusive relationship. I know these plights, and I will, again, share appropriate numbers for you or a loved one, or even someone who happens across this post and needs someone to talk to. As full of family and love this holiday can bring, it just as easily can bring feelings of isolation, low mood and contribute to a worse mental well-being and thoughts and feelings of harming yourself or suicide. If someone seems irritable with you, whether they're stressed, or just seem to be quieter than normal, ask them how they are, and be prepared to listen.
Merry Christmas, be kind to each other, goodnight.
Syria - Children's Aid
Syria Relief: https://www.syriarelief.org.uk/
Syria Relief is a UK based charity that provides medical and educational aid and has touched the lives of 1.8 million (1,800,000) Syrians in need. You can also chose which area you would like your donation to go towards.
Save the Children: www.savethechildren.org.uk
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we give children a healthy start to life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Again you can choose a crisis to donate to.
Other organisations such as your local shelter agency are brilliant causes, for those who have sought refuge in your area either from another country's war-torn plains or the fear or violence of a relationship.
Domestic Violence - Relationships
The National Domestic Violence Helpline: http://www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/
The freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run inpartnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others ringing on their behalf.
Men's Advice Line: https://www.mensadviceline.org.uk/
Help and support for male victims of domestic violence. Men's Advice Line: confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or ex-partner (or from other family members).
Mental Illness - Grief
The Samaritan's: http://www.samaritans.org/ | 116 123 (free from any phone, mobile or landline in the UK)
Talk to us any time you like, in your own way, and off thew record-- about whatever's getting to you. You don't have to be suicidal.
Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk/ | 0800 1111 (from any phone, mobile or landline in the UK)
Get info and advice about a wide range of issues, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.
The Compassionate Friends: https://www.tcf.org.uk/ | 0345 123 2304 (10:00-16:00 and 19:00-22:00 every day of the year, from any phone, mobile or landline in the UK)
Support for any bereaved parents or sibling. Phones are always answered by a parent who has lost a child.
Cruise Bereavement Care: http://www.cruse.org.uk/
Cruise is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and work to enhance society's care of bereaved people.
