Endings in the Season of Good Cheer

In the past couple of days I have listened to sad stories of plant closures in Ontario towns. It seems rather heartless, just before Christmas, although many manufacturing plants have holiday shut-downs and the companies have probably planned to close the facilities before the new year.

The end of the Resolute paper plant in Iroquois Falls takes away the largest employer, with 180 workers.  We know from living in the North for over a decade that these closures often sound a death knell for communities which are so dependent on single industries. The pulp and paper market is shrinking rapidly and these well-paid manufacturing jobs are disappearing.

In London it is the Kellogg's Cereal plant which just closed after existing in the city for nearly a century and employing 500 workers. This wasn't sudden -- there was a year's notice -- but it is still tough on the employees.

This morning I listened to a fellow who has worked there for thirty years and was one of the last two to walk out of the plant yesterday after the turkey dinner laid on by the company. He and a number of others hung their work boots on the fence and sign of the plant as a farewell.

I was a little surprised when he answered the CBC interviewer's question about what will be next in his life. It turns out that he has entered into discernment for United Church ministry and he spoke briefly about his sustaining faith and a sense of call. It was lovely to hear, but then I thought about our plant closures! With United Church congregations shutting down at the rate of one a week I hope he isn't walking into more disappointment.

We can pray for all those who are experiencing loss in these days, whether the natural death of loved ones, or tragic losses, or the end of employment. We know that the cheery emphasis of the season can be so difficult for many when they are struggling.

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