When feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks to do, I remind myself of a quote by Elisabeth Elliott: "Do the next thing", a variation on Ecclesiastes 3. I put it on my computer as a screensaver a month or so ago...
Do the Next Thing
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Eve with Gábor and Kati
Christmas Eve is very special in Hungary. After 4 p.m. no public transport is running in Budapest. Everyone gathers with their families. So did I, as I was invited by Gábor and Kati Draskóczy.
When I first celebrated Christmas Eve with them, many years ago, all of their eight children joined us. Now six of the eight have emigrated, the eldest married a Swed, four have moved to London, for reasons of work, study or marriage. The sixth will move to London with his family the middle of January. Making a living in Hungary as a very gifted violin maker has turned out to be impossible.
Gabor's explanation: in today's Hungary it is impossible for young people and their families to make a living without the financial support of their families. In cases where that is not possible only one option remains. Obviously their situation is not unique. The plane which brought daughter Judit from London was full with young people visiting their families over Christmas. Unnecessary to comment that for Gábor and Kati visiting their children and 11 grandchildren often involves using the budget flight options of Europe to the full.
We had a wonderful time together, celebrating Christ's birth and the significance for us today. Gábor and Kati are always an example to me of openness, love and hospitality.
You will not be surprised that according to the famous Hungarian custom I went home with the fruits of Kati's baking gifts, I received the so called: utravaló, "for on the way", the "left overs" you receive after visiting friends.
When I first celebrated Christmas Eve with them, many years ago, all of their eight children joined us. Now six of the eight have emigrated, the eldest married a Swed, four have moved to London, for reasons of work, study or marriage. The sixth will move to London with his family the middle of January. Making a living in Hungary as a very gifted violin maker has turned out to be impossible.
Gabor's explanation: in today's Hungary it is impossible for young people and their families to make a living without the financial support of their families. In cases where that is not possible only one option remains. Obviously their situation is not unique. The plane which brought daughter Judit from London was full with young people visiting their families over Christmas. Unnecessary to comment that for Gábor and Kati visiting their children and 11 grandchildren often involves using the budget flight options of Europe to the full.
We had a wonderful time together, celebrating Christ's birth and the significance for us today. Gábor and Kati are always an example to me of openness, love and hospitality.
You will not be surprised that according to the famous Hungarian custom I went home with the fruits of Kati's baking gifts, I received the so called: utravaló, "for on the way", the "left overs" you receive after visiting friends.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
„Tijd Koude Oorlog nog weinig onderzocht”
15-12-2009 11:30 Kerkredactie
Dr. Beatrice de Graaf.
DEN HAAG – Waar het gaat om het communistisch tijdperk ligt er nog altijd een enorm onderzoeksterrein braak, stelt dr. Beatrice de Graaf. Deze maand is het vijf jaar geleden dat de historica in Utrecht promoveerde op de dissertatie ”Over de Muur. De DDR, de Nederlandse kerken en de vredesbeweging”.
„Ronduit jammer” vindt De Graaf het dat er sinds 2004 niet één proefschrift op dit gebied meer is bijgekomen, zegt ze in het vandaag verschenen nummer van het christelijk familieblad Terdege. „Er ligt nog een enorm onderzoeksterrein braak. Kilometers archiefmateriaal van de voormalige geheime diensten in de Oostbloklanden zijn nog nooit wetenschappelijk onderzocht. Neem ook een thema als de Bijbelsmokkel, of de betrekkingen van Nederlandse kerken met christenen in Roemenië, Tsjechoslowakije of Hongarije.”
Lees verder: http://www.refdag.nl/artikel/1451315/Tijd+Koude+Oorlog+nog+weinig+onderzocht.html?nieuwsbrief=1
Voor delen van het boek: http://books.google.com/books?id=jkQ5N4H4m-kC&dq=Over+de+Muur.+De+DDR,+de+Nederlandse+kerken+en+de+vredesbeweging%E2%80%9D.&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=o8YnS7P6Jo-smwP4zeioDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Friday, December 11, 2009
Onbehagen onder minderheden - Trouw 11 dec. 2009
Roma en Noord-Afrikanen in EU-landen ervaren vaak discriminatie
Roma nemen hun intrek in een verlaten huis in een buitenwijk van Parijs.
Roma nemen hun intrek in een verlaten huis in een buitenwijk van Parijs. © AFP
Overal in de Europese Unie ervaren minderheden discriminatie, Noord-Afrikanen en Roma voorop. De kanalen om te klagen kennen ze niet.
In de 27 lidstaten van de EU is sprake van ’schokkend’ racisme. Dat stelt het EU-bureau voor de grondrechten FRA in een gisteren verschenen rapport. Die conclusie is aanvechtbaar, want het rapport beroept zich geheel op wat geënquêteerden zelf vertellen over hun ’discriminatie’.
Lees verder:
http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/europa/article2937214.ece/Onbehagen_onder_minderheden__.html.
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