Giving this Christmas

in the midst of the Christmas spending spirit...

in the midst of thinking of gifts to give to people...

my Reuters correspondent updates me on depressing world news...

10 Afghan girls are killed when collecting firewood.

a blast in Kabul kills one and injures 15.

15 others die in a bomb blast in a Pakistani market


All these after a weekend of the Connecticut shooting and China slashing news.

i'm depressed by all the news. and embarrassed by what i consider to be problems in my life. how tiny and significant they suddenly seem.



But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time, it's hard
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dreaded fear
Where the only water flowing
Is a bitter sting of tears - Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas"


while we get the joy and the warmth of Christmas, some where out there, people don't seem to remember that it's Christmas. and because of that, others will never know Christmas. i don't understand the need for the hurt. i don't understand the need for the pain.

but i understand the need for prayer for this fallen nation of men all over the world. and i'm praying ever so fervently. time to really think about giving back.

so to the readers here, whoever you may be, i implore you to give.

each year, during Christmas, World Vision beefs up their gift catalogue, both internationally and locally. and it's really not that expensive. a water filter for a school in myanmar is $11 (yet we seem less hesitant to throw money at shops in Singapore). plus there's the ongoing child sponsorship.



it's almost depressing that we need such awful news to jolt us and remind us to give. but better late than never. it is after all Christmas time. it really is time to give.