Forty pounds of contraband Beluga caviar was seized in Milan, Italy and the decision has been made to distribute it to the poor. Since caviar tends to be an acquired taste, it will be interesting to hear how it goes over with street people and those in shelters.
It's not unusual for the "down and out" to be recipients of largesse at this time of year. There is an organization of generous lawyers (no, this is not an oxymoron) who will be feeding Toronto's poor this Christmas in a lavish banquet featuring $2600 worth of filet mignon provided by one lawyer as well as $6000 in ten dollar bills to be distributed to the guests for whatever they want.
As tempting as it is to be cynical about this, it has a biblical precedent. Jesus told a parable about a banquet prepared for an A-list group of guests who all have other things to do. So the host decides to go out to the "highways and byways" to bring people to the table.
There is a great deal of generosity at this time of the year. I was proud of our UCW for providing a wonderful turkey dinner to the clients of Clarington Connections, the mental health drop-in, not once but twice this season. The first time a group joined the seniors who enjoyed their Christmas dinner at St. Paul's. The second time a group of volunteers, including a number from St. Paul's served up a lovely repast prepared by our folk at another church's hall.
At the same time my wife Ruth was downstairs in the building, distributing hampers to Bethesda House clients. RCMP officers carried the hampers out to the vehicles of the recipients.
Wouldn't it be great if we learned how to be so expansive in our outlook and compassion all through the year? Wouldn't it be truly meaningful if our society looked after the dispossessed and lonely as a matter of course? Just dreaming.
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