Christmas 06 Guest Editorial

That baby...

You can't hide it when there is a baby on the way. Mum has a bump and a glow, Dad a grin. Family plan to be around for the birth. Gifts prepared. The parents-to-be asked when's the baby due, if they know the sex, where it'll be born and if everything's going ok.

There's great excitement and anticipation as the day arrives and labour ensues. Family nearby gather, and those distant leave cellphones on.

Days later the notice in the paper declare that the parents are delighted to announce the arrival, the parents are rapt and grateful to the professionals.

Then it's all go. Baby is sucking, pooing, cooing.

The macho male Grandpa melts and the professional Grandma takes time off work. Few can resist getting caught up in the excitement.

December is here and we're caught up in the sentiment and celebration for the birth of Christ. There are the cards, the cake, the functions and the family dinner. But where's the baby? Missing!

When I was in China I saw this taken to its conclusion: the locals were huge on Christmas, malls were alive with Christmas decorations and music but the baby it was all about was missing from the basinette. In fact the paper recorded that a Catholic Priest was jailed and his church closed because he brought the Christ back.

And even when we do remember the baby, after the decorations are taken down, the tree to the dump, and belts loosened, where does the baby go?

We're off into New Year, off to the party in the Square, or wherever. On holiday, drink in one hand we lie back in a deckchair, baby forgotten. Then reality strikes: There will be a new year but will it be different?

The great thing about babies is that they cut right through our adult world, a world of scepticism, of doubt, of despair, bringing hope that life can be different, that life can begin again. Individually, globally.

The hope of Christmas is that life can be different. The baby is not missing. That sucking, pooing, cooing baby born two thousand years ago came with a gift card attached: To John or Jenny or Manu or Bob or…from God, with love.