Christmas comes but once a year and when it comes it brings great cheer – it reunites families and stimulates buying and giving.

         Last year I had a visit from a dozen carol singers. They came into my house and sang to me.

         I was looking forward to a return visit this Christmas but no they have disbanded as their village church has closed down.

         Today our country is littered with empty churches.

         While not a church goer I still enjoy church music. This is no doubt due to my time as a choir boy. Choir boys seem to have become a rare breed these days.

         Last week I lunch with Christopher  Norton a composer of church music.

         Believe it or not, I am told he is the most played composer in the World today,  largely because his music is favoured by both students and music teachers.

         Christopher, a New Zealander now lives in a small Canadian town called Stratford.

         Having worked in many Asian and Pacific counties and worked with people of many faiths I have seen and heard of many terrible atrocities.  

         I worked with both sides in Sri Lanka during their civil war.

         All these different major religions have a  common purpose to lead a better life and to help others – yet they all seem to have some extreme members who think nothing of slaughtering others in the name of their God or Gods.

         Look at the terrible religious war that is now going on in the Middle East right now.

         The Christian church is no different. Think of Protestants and the Catholic wars of the past, or the Knights of old.

         In March 2019 an Australian came to New Zealand, purchased an automatic rifle, entered a Mosque during their hour of prayer, and carried out a mass killing of 51 people.

         For this terrible crime, he will spend the rest of his days in prison with free meals and medical care for the rest of his life and the taxpayer will be paying for his free board and lodging.

          Getting back to Christmas we are asked to believe in a virgin birth and the restoration of the dead – no wonder we have so many empty churches.

         I have learned one thing. Regardless of race, creed, or country, we all strive for the same things, such as peace and prosperity.  

Merry Christmas to you – enjoy your family and make the most of the holiday season.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“Most conflicts result from misunderstandings.”