Hello. Don't you feel that Christmas is near? I understand that in our fast moving materialistic world it quickly turns into yet another business venture, but when I arrived to work today and saw our office transformed by the golden garlands, red bows and bells, it did feel very festive indeed. Our working space, although nice, is normally very blue and white, minimalist and strictly functional. So the sudden touch of Christmas magic changed it quite a bit.
I thought that it would be really interesting to see how people who are at sea or just arriving to an unfamiliar port, going to celebrate their Christmas? Will they feel slightly homesick and lonely? Will they call their families more often then usual? Or maybe they will be quite content with the company of their colleagues and a port chaplain dressed up like Santa? It’s difficult to say.
As our experience suggests thankfully there are a lot of warm-hearted people all around the world who are ready to provide seafarers with the genuine welcome during the festive season. Missions and seafarer centers in different countries invent various forms of entertainment and host imaginatively conducted parties for the sea workers. Not all the seafarers will join them this year, some due to the work commitments, others due to the lack of festive mood, caused perhaps by the problems they have to face on their vessel.
Obviously that can't be completely changed. But we hope that it can be improved. And we hope to play a part in this improvement. Christmas is a rare opportunity for everyone to reflect on the past year, on their relationships with others and on their relationship with themselves. Hopefully this Christmas most of us will be able to understand, to forgive and find a true joy in our souls. And maybe we will be able to feel this unspoken deep connection between the people on land and at sea. Perhaps we will realise that those at sea need our support and concern. They need it every day of the year, but Christmas time, like a magical lens, allows us to see it clearer and feel it deeper.
I thought that it would be really interesting to see how people who are at sea or just arriving to an unfamiliar port, going to celebrate their Christmas? Will they feel slightly homesick and lonely? Will they call their families more often then usual? Or maybe they will be quite content with the company of their colleagues and a port chaplain dressed up like Santa? It’s difficult to say.
As our experience suggests thankfully there are a lot of warm-hearted people all around the world who are ready to provide seafarers with the genuine welcome during the festive season. Missions and seafarer centers in different countries invent various forms of entertainment and host imaginatively conducted parties for the sea workers. Not all the seafarers will join them this year, some due to the work commitments, others due to the lack of festive mood, caused perhaps by the problems they have to face on their vessel.
Obviously that can't be completely changed. But we hope that it can be improved. And we hope to play a part in this improvement. Christmas is a rare opportunity for everyone to reflect on the past year, on their relationships with others and on their relationship with themselves. Hopefully this Christmas most of us will be able to understand, to forgive and find a true joy in our souls. And maybe we will be able to feel this unspoken deep connection between the people on land and at sea. Perhaps we will realise that those at sea need our support and concern. They need it every day of the year, but Christmas time, like a magical lens, allows us to see it clearer and feel it deeper.
posted by Seafarerhelp at 3:13 PM
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