The Christmas tree is already up

Yes, I went past Central World yesterday in central Bangkok during this week and saw that they are already putting up one of the city's great Christmas trees.  This is a Buddhist country and even here the tree goes up two months before Christmas and let me tell you it is sweltering hot.  No snow here! 

The scene, as I see it, strikes me as nearly surrealistic, while also giving me a sense of hope.  While I may be shocked to see a Christmas tree so early in Buddhist Thailand, it also tells me that the end of the year is near.  It is going so quickly.  I have faced and done so much in the ten months already spent and think - I have gotten this far and done it!  There is a sense of achievement, while there is still much to do.  That is life. 

And this on the week that features the Feast of All Saints!  While at mass that day, I found myself automatically referring to and giving thanks to Saint Jack and Saint Eileen, my parents who feature on this site.  This happened naturally and was the first time that I had such a strong sense of who mum and dad now are.  It was a warm experience and I found myself getting teary.  So it was also a strong experience.  This is who they are and speaks of where they are - saints with God.  They will never be canonised by the Church but they don't have to be and I don't have to wait for that to happen for them to be saints.  Saints are with God and we can declare our own saints in good faith and in line with a God who is with us all.  They have done their bit, made their contribution and now gone to God, while remaining with us.  They have no more to do in our world to make their contribution. 

So simply, Saints Jack and Eileen, pray for us!