People talk about how we should think of those who are less fortunate than us during the Festive season. But why just now? Why does it have to be assigned to a certain timeframe? Is it guilt? That we are too busy? That we feel extra lucky around Christmas, so it is easier to spot those who aren’t so? That it is more obvious in the holiday period? The latter is certainly correct – yesterday as I battled my way through the crowds in central Melbourne to the blood bank (and no, I’m not a vampire) I observed a harried Christmas shopper very nearly step on a homeless man who was curled up to the side of the pavement. Call me an emotional wreck but I fall apart a little inside every time I see people who have faced true hardship. Admittedly it was especially bad when juxtaposed against the waves of frantic Christmas shoppers: stressed and focused on money. Needless to say I had much to ponder as I sat in the blood donor chair, hooked up to a plasma-extraction-machine-thingy. Continue reading
