Something rather horrible happened on Friday night. We were travelling on a midnight train homewards from London with a rather unpleasant chap. He started off talking about how he hated Shoreditch because the girls there showed you their bodies but you couldn’t touch them, you just had to pay to look. He then said profanities with every breath, he sat and did a line of a drug and then started verbally abusing, quite violently all the people in the carriage, saying they’d called him all sorts of things (they hadn’t) he threatened women, said he’d smash their face in, screaming in the face of men. As we were reaching my stop, I ended up calling the police as no one else did. It was horrid and it left everyone shaken in the carriage.
It was so hard to know what to say in this situation- I said something along the lines of “It’s Christmas. Please sit down and calm down.” That man needed peace from whatever awful things caused him to be so downright awful- be it the drugs or whatever.
On Sunday, I had to wait an hour on a freezing cold platform waiting for a train that did not turn up without information. I inwardly became angrier and angrier, seething and wanting to be annoyed at someone. I didn’t say anything, except to try and laugh about it with the equally infuriated people around me, as we were all longing to get cross at someone. It took willpower, those feelings were there, we needed peace.
If there’s anything that Christmas and advent teaches me, is the need for peace. I find myself frequently cross/infuriated by things and that peace is something I need. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, which is your choice, his message was, and has always been of PEACE. And that is a GOOD thing. Peace and goodwill towards all people. Peace towards yourself and your situation. Peace with the circumstances. Yes, people around the world have taken the message of Christ and used it to bad intent- they have twisted it, they have used it for violence, they have done things in the name of Christ that they shouldn’t have. But who he is, who is message was, and will be is to bring peace, peace to the world, peace from all that has gone wrong.
I wish you peace and joy and every blessing to your family.
Whatever happens in 2013, whatever trials, anxieties, fears and injustices we face, let’s be reminded of that peace which passes all understanding.
Wishing you a very, very happy Christmas.
With much love,
Kezzie x
This is my Pause for Advent 4 contribution- sorry it's a little late!
It may be late, but it is wonderful, Kezzie. Yes we need to think about the Prince of Peace, and pray for his peace in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteI have just been watching the news about this awful crash on the M6 - a woman and two children died, and the motorway was closed for hours.
I wondered if people in the queue were frustrated and angry at their delay - and how they would have felt if they had known its cause. I am learning to hand over the frustrating times to God and seek his inner peace whatever the inner turmoil around me.
I am so glad you were kept SAFE tho, in a horrid situation on the train.
Enjoy the rest of the Christmas break with your loved ones xx
I am so glad you all stayed safe, what a vile man.
ReplyDeleteI hope you still managed a Merry Christmas xx
Merry, merry Christmas Kezzie! You are so sweet to remember me and I am so touched by it.
ReplyDeleteJust read your blog on the crazy man in the train. I know how you must have felt then. He's definitely not in his best state of mind and it's good to know no one was hurt during that time. Just shaken probably. Good on you to call the cops, just in case he got crazier!
Yes, we need peace in the world. And peace starts from within. Hope you had a great lovely time with your friends and family.
Cheers,
Shop Nomiji
That's very beautiful and so true. It is one of the aspects I like best of the season. Best wishes to you.
ReplyDeleteOoh, what a horrid situation for you. But it provoked some valuable thoughts, and I'm grateful for them. Peace comes from within, from our own ability to reflect on our motives and emotions and know them for what they really are, but as you say, the power to truly change what we find there comes from Jesus. I've had to do a lot of learning about both sides of that equation of the last few years. Have a wonderful week of 2012 and a blessed 2013!
ReplyDeletePS I wanted to reply to your comment on my post by email, but I don't think that your email address is shown here... If you have time/inclination could you email me on alison.heal@orange.fr, please?
ReplyDeleteWell done for calling the police! hopefully the rest of your Christmas has been peaceful and calm. xxxx
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful post. i am sorry you had to deal with all of that, but your strength and optimism are a lesson to all. merry belated christmas!!
ReplyDeleteFirst of gorgeous tree, and I hope your Christmas (other than this experience) was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThat situation does sound completely awful. I wouldn't know what to do at all. Glad you ended up calling the police! Great reminder of trying to find peace. I could definitely use it in my life:)
-Jessi
haircutandgeneralattitude.blogspot.com
meery xmas!
ReplyDeletelovely blog =)
I'll be happy if you check out my blog too=)
I'm sorry you had to go through that on the tube, but well done for calling the police xxx
ReplyDelete