Christmas Lamentations

For the coming Yuletide, nonagenarian Lay Kim Lian was given the task of decorating the home she was staying in. The caretaker, Patrick Yap showed her a picture of a Christmas tree and the adept ex-seamstress and eight other inmates in Rumah Damai Home in Kuala Terengganu came out with an artificial one using 800 pieces of straws in 5 hours! The home is run by a local church. It is not just a wonder that a 90 year old woman could come out with a creative design but the fact that the home for the elderly and the destitute runs for free, relying on public donations itself is a reason for admiration. That reminds me of the admirations some of my Buddhist friends have for Christians. The Christians seem to have a tradition of helping the poor and needy. In the past, during the colonial days, Christians missionaries ventured into unknown territories, sometimes even places infested with head hunters and built schools and hospitals earning a legion of followers. Some Buddhists think that Buddhists only build statues, temples and sit and meditate. A lady I know once commented that one has to learn meditation to purify oneself. As she puts it, one can't help others without helping oneself first. But it would be possible perhaps to help others as one goes along helping oneself... What do you think?

Good works done in the church...