Calrossy Chaplaincy
What do you do with a gift you don’t really want?
Fifty-six years ago, for Christmas, Larry Kunkel’s mother gave him a pair of moleskin pants which just weren’t right. So next Christmas, Larry wrapped the pants in colourful paper and presented them to his brother-in-law Roy.
Roy didn’t want them either, so a year later he gave them back to Larry. The pants went back and forth for a few years, and then the two started getting creative.
First, Roy twisted the pants tightly and stuffed them in a 3-foot-long, 1-inch-wide pipe. In retaliation, Larry compressed the pants into a 7 inch square and wrapped them in wire. Roy then put the pants in a 2 foot square crate filled with stones, nailed it shut, put steel bands round the crate, and gave it to Larry – and so it continued…
Some other “wrappings” for this gift included Roy stuffing the pants into a 5-inch coffee tin, which was then soldered shut and buried inside a 5 gallon container filled with concrete and reinforcing rods. Then there was Larry’s presentation of a green, 3 foot cube that had once been a 1974 Gremlin motor car. A note attached to the severely scrunched car advised Roy that the pants were inside the glove box…
The giving only ended in 1989 when the pants were burned up while Roy was trying to encase them in 10,000 pounds of glass to give to Larry…
This story of annual “pants giving” reminded me about three things that really define any gift – whether it’s wanted or not!
Firstly, a gift is free – for the receiver, at least! The pants didn’t cost Larry anything at the start (though their wrapping became rather expensive!).
Secondly, a gift is from someone. Usually that ‘someone’ has some sort of relationship with you, as well; it’s just not the same to give a gift to yourself!
Thirdly, a gift must be accepted. You can look at the outer wrapping all you like; but until you take off that wrapping and reveal what’s inside, you haven’t really received the gift, have you?
When it comes to God’s gifts, especially that of His Son Jesus, these three things still apply...
Rev Mark Rundle
Calrossy Chaplain
Calrossy Christian Fellowship (CCF) Prayer Meeting
MONDAY 24TH OCTOBER – 8.30 for 9.00AM
Come and join in the next meeting of the Calrossy Christian Fellowship - a group of parents and friends of Calrossy who get together to pray for our School community, people and events!
It’s happening on Monday, 24th October, at 130 Brisbane Street.
Arrive from 8.30am, for a 9.00 start, finishing about 9.30am.
Contact Mrs Amy Price or Mrs Julie Smith if more information required. All welcome!
Community Prayer Breakfast
