Times Advocate, 1999-12-22, Page 6About the Times -Advocate
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Exeter Ti
vv eunesday,December 22, 1999
Editorial&Opinion 9Lppi, ULolidajgs :64(I
TiMEsAI)VOCATE
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511
Jim Beckett
Publisher and Editor
Don Smith
General Manager Production Manager
Deb Lord
Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited
424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850
Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331
EDITORIAL
Simr"'
Carols
by Rev. L. Bruce Pocock
RECTOR OF THE PARISH OF HOLY TRINITY, LUCAN
For many people, "Silent Night"
and "Away in a Manger" have
the power to make Christmas
come alive. They are able to trans-
port us back to our childhood when
Christmas was full of excitement.
There were none of the onerous
responsibilities we have as adults.
There is something in the tunes that
remind us of the bright eyed inno-
cence of children, as they gather
around the Christmas tree. There
was no `humbug' in Christmas for us
then. We did not have to battle the
press of the shoppers in packed
malls, or struggle to find that special
gift that would make Christmas 'just
right' for that special someone we
love. We weren't thinking of
Christmas cakes, cards, turkeys and
all the other things that are so much
a part of the festival. We didn't have
to worry about those January bills.
either. All we had to do was to fall
asleep in our excitement and to wake
to the wonderful magic of Christmas
Day. Oh! for that simple time again.
Those memories are what makes
"Silent Night, Holy Night" meaning-
ful. The carol takes us out of all the
busyness and let's us experience, yet
again, the thrill of the Christmas
mystery, the mystery of Christ's birth.
You see it is only when we allow our-
selves "to become as little children", that
we can truly appreciate Christmas; when
Christ's love can be clearly shown in us.
Recently I watched a small girl hold the
newborn baby of a family friend for the
very first time. She was just thrilled! She
beamed as she held the baby; her face was
radiant and she danced with excitement
and delight. It moved me to watch her, and
it reminded me of some life values which
are so important if we are to keep our
humanity intact.
That is how the Christmas experience is
meant to be. We must regain the excite-
ment of the Shepherds and Wise Men, as
they saw the new born for the first time.
We have to capture the vision of the new-
born in our own minds and hearts. Jesus
has so much meaning for us, but then
again every newborn illustrates a wonder-
ful new hope for humanity.
1. trust that you and your family can cap-
ture again the freshness, the innocence,
the hope, the delight, and the simplicity of
Christmas, which is to be found in "Silent
Night" and "Away in a Manger" and that
celebration of the birth of Christ will be.
again an "Old Time Christmas, just like the
ones we used to know".
God bless you all and may you know the
peace of Chrlstnfas and a joyous New Year.
Nicole Vanhie
Mt. Carmel - Grade 8
Molly Hunters
Precious Blood..—Grade 4
hing for the perfect
Well it's Christmas time again — let the insanity
begin. In these ever-increasing days of commercialism
and big business, it seems that every year Christmas
becomes more and more about what gifts are hot and
which stores have the best sales..
This year is no different and, speaking per-
sonally, I have no idea what I'm going to buy
anybody for Christmas this year. And yet, I
know time is running out.
Christmas shopping has usually been a fairly
simple exercise for me each year. For about
the past five years my brother and I have had
the tradition of going out on Christmas Eve and
getting all of our shopping done in about 2
hours. Often it took longer to find a parking
spot than it did to find the actual gigs.
And each year I knew what to get: a rap CD
for my brother (he would actually pick out
what he wanted), a CD or book for my dad and
some artsy-fartsy craft thingy for my mom. Quick, sim-
ple, and relatively inexpensive and painless. Our mis-
sion was to get in and out of the mall as quickly as pos-
sible and without hurting anybody.
Things have changed. Other commitments have
made it impossible for my brother and I to carry on
our annual last-minute shopping trip so this year 1
decided to do my shopping ahead of time. After several
walks around various stores and malls I've still come
up empty. I haven't bought one gift and Christmas is
looming. Not only have I not bought anything for my
family yet, I have no idea what I want to get them. I'm
totally uninspired and they all might end up with gift
certificates.
Compounding my problems this year is that the one
gift I know I want to buy — my girlfriend's — I
can't find anywhere.
Since my girlfriend has played the piano
since she was about three years old and still
plays everyday, I thought it would be nice to
buy her a nice little ceramic piano. Do you
think I can find one? Nope. A saleswoman in
one craft store said to me, "I don't think you'll
find anything like that here." Well, why not?
Are little ornamental pianos all of a sudden a
rarity? I used to see these things all the time
and now that I want one they've dropped off
the planet.
Now, to be honest, 1 did find a tiny crystal
piano. Unbelievably, it cost $450, slightly more (alright
a lot more) than I am willing to pay. This piano was so
small you could fit it on the end of your thumb but it
costs as much as my first car. I'd be better off buying a
real piano.
So the search continues with no solution in sight. I've.
tried shopping early and it apparently doesn't work.
Looks like I'll be making another mad shopping spree
on Christmas Eve.
Wish me luck.
SCOTT
ICON
AND ANO
THING
THER