Boxing Day Reflections — Plus Happening This Week
Huka Falls
It’s Boxing Day — and although I realise that could mean indulging in an orgy of shopping, I really can’t think of anything more boring to do on a holiday. Not to mention wasting precious summer sunshine hours buying stuff I almost certainly don’t need anyway.
Instead, today I took a look at the fabulous Huka Falls where the Waikato River begins its journey from Lake Taupo to the sea. I think the photo gives you an idea of the power and force of water forcing its way through the gorge.
I’ve also been thinking about those words that I posted yesterday, from Howard Thurman, particularly the line, “To bring peace among people.” Someone remarked to me, “shouldn’t it be ‘peace among nations’, though: isn’t that the bromide?”
Obviously I can’t pretend to know what Howard Thurman intended, but I can’t help wondering if the words “peace among people” were not chosen with care.
Reflecting on yesterday’s Christmas Day post
“Peace among nations” may be an ideal we all aspire to, but it does not feel like an achievable goal for most of us individually. Peace among people, however, lies within all our power; it’s something we can individually aspire to and practice: peace within our families, peace with our neighbours, peace in our workplaces, peace in our clubs and community organisations and professional associations.
“Peace among people” is on all of us. It’s something we can all actively try and bring about — and much in the sense of the old aphorism that if we “take care of the pence, the pounds will take care of themselves”, if we all practice building and sustaining peace at an individual level, then one day it might catch on sufficiently that we may well find that we have been laying a foundation for peace among nations as well.
Food for thought, anyway (Boxing Day style.)
In terms of what’s coming up this week, tomorrow I’ll have another poem for you, then over Wednesday 28 – Friday 30th I’ll be running the second part of the “Avid Reader & Viewer” special, with Paul Weimer, Karen McMillan, and Rebecca Fisher looking forward to five forthcoming books and shows of 2017.
Paul Weimer
Meanwhile, here’s a Reprise on their Top 5 for 2016:
Paul Weimer’s Top 5 Reads
Karen McMillan
Karen McMillan’s Top 5 Fiction Reads
Rebecca Fisher
Peace among people and all that you just said: Here here!
Boxing day specials are unfortunately, a trap that the increasing number of citizens struggling with their pence have to participate in.
Huka falls! What of the madding crowds?
We drove over the Lewis to Westport, Christmas Day, took my parents out of the resthome Boxing Day and back over Arthur’s the day after, all designed to avoid the crowds on the roads, in particular to avoid all those idiots who are so anxious to get on holiday it’s a miracle the road toll is as low as it is. Worked like a charm except for Punakaiki to Greymouth, the odd white-knuckle moment caused by the impatient.
Happy New Year, Graeme.
Your Christmas-Boxing Day holiday sounds a trifle frenetic in terms of driving but at least you got to see some great country. Just a little too late for the rata through Arthur’s Pass, alas, unless it was late this year? I do know what you mean about the driving though: have seen some hair-raising incidents this holiday season.
Huka Falls were busy but not excessively so, certainly not enough to take away from the splendour and power of the scenery.
With respect to Boxing Day sales, my only further observation is that most people I know who are truly strapped financially can’t afford them after the demands of Christmas and the immediately prior period and that just keeping their heads above water in terms of affording staples takes all their resources.