Joy and Peace?

Wow. I'm sitting here at my desk feeling more drained than I ever remember during a Christmas season. Debbie said something very similar this morning. And we got a phone call from an officer friend who was marveling about their tiredness this year. Must be something going around.

I'm not sure why this year would be so different. We've been doing this "kettle thing" for the last 25 years (with a short break during our 3 years at DHQ). We've got lots of good help here in Bangor that handle the majority of the kettle driving, application process and basket/toy/clothing distribution. But there's a whole lot more to this season for the Corps Officer than "just" kettles and baskets, so there's still plenty work to go around.

I think the long days are the hardest. Deb's up and out of the house before I even get up and I usually find her asleep when return at night. I think I remember what she looks like. I guess that's what pictures are for.

Today is our last distribution day (except for those who always come in at the last minute) and already I've heard of 2 people who are irate at us for various reasons. One was stealing from our Family Store and instead of being embarrassed, "goes off" on our employees! So she's ranting in the background while a cameraman is filming an informational item for the evening news.

Only 1 day left after today! Then we can pack everything up in the boiler room for another year and try to recuperate. The sound of bells and the phone ringing are not on my list of favorite things right about now!

[1 hour later . . .]

I'm just getting back from changing kettle workers at one of our stands. The worker we put there this morning called to tell us she "was cold." She's been a worker for us a few years, so she knows what it's like standing kettles in Maine. Quite simply, for those of you who don't know: it's cold! That's no secret.

The whole "kettle thing" wouldn't be so bad if you could put people out in the morning then just pick them up at night. But it's never like that. Every day is an exercise in creativity, trying to fill in for people who don't show up in the AM and figure out what to do when they call in telling you they want to go home. NOW. Linus (of Peanuts comic strip fame) once said: "I love mankind. It's people I can't stand!" He must have managed a Salvation Army kettle drive once or twice.

All of the above is a minor rant about some of my season so far. It's too bad we salvos have allowed ourselves to get so overworked and drained during the special season that exists to remind us of Joy and Peace. We say we do it so that others may experience Joy and Peace. But I wonder. Shouldn't there be a way to bring Joy and Peace without sacrificing the very same for ourselves?

That may sound a bit selfish, but it's not what I'm getting at. During the hustle and bustle and the commercialization of Christmas (which we so deplore), we salvos are the most hustled and bustled of them all. We should be better examples of what Christmas is really about.

One of these days I'm going to figure out a way to raise all the money we need and help others with things they need without sacrificing our health and sanity.

One of these days.