www.iomtoday.co.im Isle of Man Examiner,Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Email [email protected] NEWS Telephone 695697 God is good at nothing WE’RE not good at nothing, In a Christmas message to the island, Bishop Robert Paterson are we? As long as we’ve got things, reflects on the economic difficulties we have all faced and we’re OK but nothing leaves us a urges people not to lose sight of what’s important bit at a loss. The island has been hit by the banking crisis and all that has been chiefly to blame, but none of us gets an animal’s feeding-trough, a child washed up in its wake. away innocent. of a subjugated people, immediately Some people have lost jobs, which We were all content to see house exiled for a couple of years. is a dreadful kind of nothing-ness and prices climb, investment income God does nothing very well indeed. can lead people to lose their sense of increase and standards of living soar ‘Take to heart among yourselves self-worth. – until, that is, it all came to a sticky what you find in Christ Jesus: “He There’s no easy solution to that end. was in the form of God; yet he laid no crisis, of course, because we all know Then, of course, we looked for claim to equality with God, but made that when a society over-stretches its someone else to blame. himself nothing, assuming the form of resources, something has to be done; Now, as individuals and govern- a slave. Bearing the human likeness, generally the weakest suffer first and ments, we find we’re not good at sharing the human lot, he humbled sometimes the most. nothing. himself, and was obedient, even to Politicians and those who control God is good at nothing. the point of death, death on a cross!”’ the purse-strings in both the govern- When the time was right he sent Those words from St Paul’s Letter ment-funded and private sectors feel his only Son into more-or-less the to the Philippians get to the heart of the moral pain of this crisis. best definition of ‘nothing’ that there the message of Christmas – the emp- It is no wonder that Christians have is. tying of God. found themselves not so much on one Born with questions whispered God is good at nothing but he isn’t side or the other of the protest at St behind hands about his parentage, good for nothing: discover him in Paul’s Cathedral but on both sides. of parents who had been ordered to Jesus at Christmas. Profligate speculators in the banks, re-locate temporarily to another place May the peace of Christ be in your property interests and so on may be by an imperial power, laid to sleep in heart and home. chriSTmaS mESSagE: Bishop Robert Paterson PICTURE: mIkE PRoUDFooT mP111224 (2) Call for electoral reform evidence A PARLIAMENTARY committee looking at electoral reform is seeking members of the public’s views on a proposed bill. The Electoral Reform Bill 2011 makes two main proposals – the first is to divide the island into eight con- stituencies and the second is that each constituency should have three MHKs and one MLC. A joint House of Keys and Legisla- tive Council committee is looking at the constituional principles raised by the bill. If any member of the public would like their views taking into consideration they should contact the committee by February 1. chariTY dippErS: From left, Leanne, James and Gemma Watterson are just some of the family who plan to complete five New Year’s Day dips, including two at Peel Brenda Cannell MHK chairs the committee with members Phil Gawne MHK, Leonard Singer MHK, Phil Braidwood MLC, David Callister MLC and Alex Downie MLC. The full text of the bill can be found Family to go deeply dippy on the Tynwald website. All submissions should be sent A FAMILY will be braving the chilly ‘It seemed fitting to raise money by ting his life back to normal.’ the brave dippers should send dona- to Jonathan King, clerk of the Joint Irish Sea not just once but five times on doing the dips although when we told On January 1, they will be taking part tions to 21 Creggan Aashen, Glen Maye Committee on the Electoral Reform New Year’s Day. dad what we were doing he said he in the Peel Dip at midday, followed by Park, Glen Maye, IM5 3DA. Bill, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Gemma Watterson, her sister Lianne thought we were mad. the dips at Port St Mary’s Chapel Beach The New Year’s Day dips take place Douglas IM1 3PW. Alternatively email and brother Aaron as well as five mem- ‘He will be doing the Peel Dip but and inner harbour, and Gansey before at the folllowing times: [email protected] bers from aunt Lyz Howard’s side of reckons one is enough!’ finishing with a second dip at Peel. • Friends of Auldyn’s Ramsey dip. www.tynwald.org.im the family are taking part in five dips to She explained: ‘My dad had always Gemma said: ‘The support we re- Register at 1.30pm at Queen’s Prom- raise money for The Friends of Robert been fit and healthy but last year he ceived from Geoff Smith, senior cardiac enade lifeboat station for 2pm start. Owen House and Noble’s Hospital’s kept getting really bad pains in his rehabilitation nurse at Noble’s was sec- • Southern dips: Chapel Beach, Port cardiac rehabilitation unit. chest for no apparent reason. ond to none. He was forever on hand if St Mary, 12.45pm; Inner harbour, Both of the facilities helped Gem- ‘In June the cardiac unit scanned we needed to ask questions and kept in Port St Mary, 1.30pm; Gansey Beach, ma’s dad Chris, a farmer from Patrick, him and ran a few tests which showed touch daily throughout dad’s surgery. 2.15pm; Port Erin beach, 3pm. after he fell ill earlier this year. he had a massive aortic aneurysm. ‘Dad also recently attended the car- • Castletown Ale Drinkers’ Castle- Gemma, aged 27, of Glen Maye, said: ‘He was so lucky as a lot of people diac rehab course which helped him town dip from the harbour, 3.30pm. ‘Dad was one of the original Peel dip- with aneurysms don’t know until it’s massively. • Peel dip, register at 11am for a mid- pers in 1983 and has done it every year too late. ‘Whilst we were away with dad we day start. since – as a family we have all taken ‘Within two months he was taken stayed at The Robert Owen House, • Breakthrough Breast Cancer dip, part over the years, even my daughters to Broadgreen [in Liverpool] for open which is fantastic. It is on site at Broad- Queen’s Promenade Douglas, midday. Follow us at Kiara, aged 10, and Aalish, aged eight, heart surgery. Luckily he is well on the green and the staff are so friendly.’ • Deemster’s New Year Dip, Laxey do it every year. way to making a full recovery and get- Anyone who would like to sponsor beach, midday. iomnewspapers.