Travel
Travel
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For a long time, I worked on Cruise ships, meeting (literally!) thousands of people a week. Not as many as the giant floating cities that are out there now, but 2,000 passengers or so. And so, on a Christmas Cruise you get some interesting comments from International Travelers.
At the Christmas Buffet, A wonderful Couple I met from the Baltic wanted to know why there were no Fish for the Christmas meal.
Another couple from the Baltic Countries wanted to know why had so many colored disturbing Christmas bulbs. Didn't we know Christmas ornaments lights are always White?
And the Brits, wanted to know where the Plum Pudding was at.
And when people belted out Christmas Carols, in two or three different languages...same song, different language...just think of: "Oh Christmas Tree.- but in German! Or Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht," which we know as "Silent Night" with slightly different words. And to hear that song played , as it was originally written, on a Classical Guitar...is a very moving piece of Music.
I once was in a Theater when I heard Silent Night Sung in perfect harmony, in a dozen different languages....and man that is truly spell binding.
I will leave with this one. There are not a lot of Christians in Japan. Maybe one percent or so. The Culture is almost homogenous. So they just aren't interested in any "new ideas." LOL
So I met a lovely couple who trusted me enough to share their complete ignorance of Christmas. It went like this:
"So what is this Holiday all about, Kevin?"
Now I want you to think about how you would explain American Christmas, to a complete stranger...with no cultural connection at all. How do you tell them that the root is still the birth of Jesus...but the Glitz is all about Santa...and Marketing for Gifts. I tried the simple route.
"Well, A lot of Americans are from a Faith Called: "Christianity." And they believe God sent his Son down to Save the World from Evil. And that Son was named Jesus. He was born on Christmas Day more than 1900 years ago."
"Where can I read up on this Jesus person?"
"In the New Testament. It is all about Jesus.
The guys eyes grew wide, and his wife stared at me.
"He wrote his own book! Two millennia ago and you still have it? No wonder you celebrate him. "
So now I am in way over my head. Heck, I am Catholic, what do I know about the Bible?
But he turns towards the giant Christmas tree, with all the lovely lights, tinsel, garlands and ornaments, with tons of gifts under it. It had a bright shining Star on the top, more than twenty feet in the air.
He points that the tree, turns to me and says one of the most profound things I have ever heard:
"And what would the Son of a God say about this Christmas Tree?"
And I wonder...what would He.
At the Christmas Buffet, A wonderful Couple I met from the Baltic wanted to know why there were no Fish for the Christmas meal.
Another couple from the Baltic Countries wanted to know why had so many colored disturbing Christmas bulbs. Didn't we know Christmas ornaments lights are always White?
And the Brits, wanted to know where the Plum Pudding was at.
And when people belted out Christmas Carols, in two or three different languages...same song, different language...just think of: "Oh Christmas Tree.- but in German! Or Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht," which we know as "Silent Night" with slightly different words. And to hear that song played , as it was originally written, on a Classical Guitar...is a very moving piece of Music.
I once was in a Theater when I heard Silent Night Sung in perfect harmony, in a dozen different languages....and man that is truly spell binding.
I will leave with this one. There are not a lot of Christians in Japan. Maybe one percent or so. The Culture is almost homogenous. So they just aren't interested in any "new ideas." LOL
So I met a lovely couple who trusted me enough to share their complete ignorance of Christmas. It went like this:
"So what is this Holiday all about, Kevin?"
Now I want you to think about how you would explain American Christmas, to a complete stranger...with no cultural connection at all. How do you tell them that the root is still the birth of Jesus...but the Glitz is all about Santa...and Marketing for Gifts. I tried the simple route.
"Well, A lot of Americans are from a Faith Called: "Christianity." And they believe God sent his Son down to Save the World from Evil. And that Son was named Jesus. He was born on Christmas Day more than 1900 years ago."
"Where can I read up on this Jesus person?"
"In the New Testament. It is all about Jesus.
The guys eyes grew wide, and his wife stared at me.
"He wrote his own book! Two millennia ago and you still have it? No wonder you celebrate him. "
So now I am in way over my head. Heck, I am Catholic, what do I know about the Bible?
But he turns towards the giant Christmas tree, with all the lovely lights, tinsel, garlands and ornaments, with tons of gifts under it. It had a bright shining Star on the top, more than twenty feet in the air.
He points that the tree, turns to me and says one of the most profound things I have ever heard:
"And what would the Son of a God say about this Christmas Tree?"
And I wonder...what would He.
Travel
Culture
Cruises
Holidays
Humor
Posted 8 d ago
Responses: 6
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Hey Gene, I have been so fogged up in the mind with this month long steroid parade, I forgot to ask: How are you doing? I remember before I went off of RP for a year, that you had overcome being nibbled on by health ducks. I hope you and yours are doing well, and Merry Christmas.
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PO1 H Gene Lawrence
SGT Kevin Hughes - thank you for asking Kevin. I definitely have my health issues that I’m dealing with. But God is carrying me through it all. Have a very Blessed and Merry Christmas.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
PO1 H Gene Lawrence - I know that feeling, just keep trucking, and find a sweet spot in each day. When I left the ER today, I thought how lucky I am to get to walk back out, while other people were Admitted. Blessed is truly the right word.
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You've lived quite an interesting life Brother Kevin. Actually, I guess we all have, just a little different type of interesting.
That's a good drawing of your ship.
That's a good drawing of your ship.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Yeah, who knew? I got to talk to a lot of people, and mostly listen to their stories. And because I am autistic ...I didn't know you shouldn't just walk up and talk to strangers. Most of the times it paid off with a good story, a couple of times, I almost caused international incidents.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Yeah, just look at your life Ed...you fought a battle, came home and fought a different b battle, and along the way you took some wild rides. And the drawing was made by my daughter, as the "Island Princess" was my favorite Ship (loved them all, but you still have a favorite!)
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