It was the second week of December! That especially busy season before Christmas was upon me. Besides that, the winter heavy grey skies were getting to me. I first came to Japan in 1956 from the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand to be precise! Even after all those years, while adapting to Japan in most areas, I have never really got used to cold weather at Christmas! For so many of my youthful years, Christmas was a time of sun and beach swimming. I have never, ever dreamed of a white Christmas! So as the shepherd Psalm puts it so vividly, my spirit was drooping.
My lifelong hobby has been woodwork. At middle school my highest marks were for a class called “woodwork.” For those who might be curious, my lowest marks were for what was then called “arithmetic.” I like making things, but as a priest I have lived in aging rectories, so I tend to mend more than make.
Recently on Amazon, I looked at a carpenter’s bench with envy. But all I did was to put it into the wish list. The bench was selling at $197. Is this too expensive for me? And if I did buy it, how many years, at 92, have I left to use it? So, I went to St. Joseph the carpenter, asking him to guide me. Joseph had Jesus as his apprentice.
St. Joseph had arranged a Christmas present for the birthday of his foster child and later his apprentice carpenter, Jesus.
Three weeks later a couple whom I had witnessed their marriage seven years previously came to visit me. At the time of their marriage both were in their 70s. In both cases their former partner had died. They came to tell me that their senior second marriage had given both of them a wonderful and refreshing happiness. Then they handed me an envelope saying: “Here is a gift in gratitude to God. Buy yourself a Christmas present.”
Later when I opened the envelope there was the yen amounting to exactly $197. So, St. Joseph had arranged a Christmas present for the birthday of his foster child and later his apprentice carpenter, Jesus. These events had the Good Shepherd reviving my drooping spirit.
As a postscript I add that the carpenter’s bench was delivered to the door in a big parcel. The bench was in many parts to be assembled. A parishioner seeing me gaze at the many parts with a worried look said: “Let’s assemble it.” While his wife read the instructions, four of us put the bench together. We had fun doing it which was another gift.
So, I thank the carpenters, Jesus and Joseph for their thoughtful Christmas present.
Columban Fr. Barry Cairns lives and works in Japan.