Good bye “Post-Truth”
Can we say that truth still matters?
Yesterday Once More…
CD from Dami’s Yesterday Once More Tour
We went to the Dami concert last Saturday. It was a great concert, one of the best – and we have been to many “big name” performers. Dami has an incredible voice, sang for 2 hours and told some of her story. Gifted and humble are not words usually used to describe someone famous but that describes Dami. What made it extra special was that she stayed behind to have her photo taken with anyone who wanted it, plus signed all the merchandise brought to her. It was well past midnight before she was finished.
As we come up to another Christmas I wonder if it is “yesterday once more” for many of us? “Same old, same old” – or “same meat, different gravy” as we used to say when I was a kid. What legacy are we leaving for our children, maybe grandchildren, our family, friends, neighbours and planet? And I’m not talking about assets. Those are heavy questions for a Christmas message but do need an answer!
A lot has happened this year. Highlights for us are:
- Celebrating our 20th Wedding Anniversary (how did that happen?!). We had a beautiful Re-dedication service
- Our trip to Europe to see family and friends, then to Italy for time together – like a second honeymoon
- Our good health
- Some home renovations
- Being able to work at Compassion to see children released from poverty in Jesus’ name
- Leading a trip to Kupang, West Timor (Indonesia) with Compassion – and see God at work
Lowlights? Too strong a word, maybe just an inconvenience, and then only one thing – being burgled just before our 20th anniversary celebration and 2 weeks before we were due to go overseas. But all good in the end.
We hope that as you look back over the years gone by and the good times that you had (to pinch the words from the Carpenters song) that it does not make today seem rather sad. And if that is the case then 2017 will be different for you.
Blessings,
Geff & Jeannie
Time Capsule
Have you ever written something only to discover it years later? I just had that experience of a note written over 10 years ago that has just come to light.
Here is the note, written on 29 March 2006 whilst we were in Zimbabwe.
A week in a Retirement Home @ 50 years old! Well it has certainly been an experience. People (at least some) don’t mature, they just get wrinkly and older. They keep – one can only guess – the same characteristics they had decades ago, perhaps when children. They don’t really grow up, they just get older. Eg. Dad (by father in law) went to give one of his mates a bit of surplus avocado. Another lady on the table – who is usually quite nice – demanded “where’s mine?!”. Dad has to be so careful that he does not upset anybody – and living with around 44 woman and 6 men – that is not easy.
One woman on Dad’s table grabs the food placed in the middle. Despite Peaceful Ways (name changed to protect both the innocent and guilty) being a pleasant place to live, community living is not easy. I would not like to live here (or any other retirement home – if sons ever read this, take note!). By far the best way would be to live independently.
There was a “new boy” who came the other day and one of the women here fancied him – but was told by him that he had a girlfriend for 15 years. When relaying this gem the ladies told us that “sex appeal never dies out”. In one way this is good news, in another it is too much information!
Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did.
Wishing you and yours a peaceful and joyful Christmas.
Travelling Gomezs 