Page 12 - C.A.L.L. #28 - Spring 2007

KALEIDOSCOPE

I once asked a friend of mine for news about a mutual friend of ours and was told with a sigh:
"well, she's afflicted with O.A.". Thinking this might be another, hitherto unknown plague, I
looked at my friend enquiringly and was told this referred simply to Old Age.

In Francesco #29 of Advent 2006 we found the following, somewhat wistful little item by
Brother Fritz Giglinger:

"At this time, when I feel more and more clearly that I am growing old, I like to sit at my very
ancient writing desk, looking at the precious carved cross of my master Jesus and at the pictures of
Brothers Franz, Charles, Carlo, Bishop Florian and other beloved ones on the wall across my room,
or to the left, through the window into the garden - and listen into myself. Yes, my body reveals
several weaknesses and infirmities. It acted as a faithful "Brother Donkey" , as Franziskus used to
refer to his own body, served me dutifully and fulfilled many wonderful wishes of mine. Many
houses have I built, twice did I undertake a pilgrimage to Assisi , to Lourdes I preferred to ride on a
bicycle - where haven't I been around? My body was always my quiet, obedient servant. By now it
takes more and more frequent commands, slightly chuckling. And I submit myself smilingly , but
at the same time sighingly . Nobody is able to evade the laws of space and time, they allow us to
initiate and terminate, they create a unity by birth and by death amongst humans and other
creatures. Nothing escapes their earthly power. Being human means being born and dying without
any limits, coming to earth and sinking into it and rising again. Where is it leading us?"

The recent visit of former Communes Deskman Jan Bang and his wife Ruth Wilson from the
Solborg Camphill village at Yad Tabenkin - a treat by itself - brought us a little report of
what's going on there:

What’s news from Camphill?

Well, here at Solborg in Norway, the feeling of Christmas is in the air. Every year, in preparation
for the various festivals, plays are performed. This year is no exception, and two are in preparation
right now – one the traditional Christmas story of the birth of Jesus, which takes place in our very
own Stable, the actors surrounded by the cows and sheep, the floor a thick bed of straw. The other
play was written by Karl Konig, the founder of Camphill.

The audience will be small, because most people who are around will participate in the plays. The
actual process of putting on a play, the building up during rehearsals, the role playing, the doing-
something-together, the dressing-up, the final production – all these elements are seen as much
more important for community building and communal experience, than having an audience to
watch us!

Of course, all the “Villagers” take part too – it is great for everyone to have the chance to dress up
and have the opportunity to pretend they are someone else for a while and there is no end to the
number of angels and shepherds you can have in a Christmas play!

Another beautiful Christmas tradition at Solborg is for everyone to gather a few days before, to go
high up into our pine forests with our traditional Norwegian work horse (called Goliath!), to
choose a tree to cut down for each house, and the most lovely one of all for our Communal Hall.
The trees are then decorated, not with commercial plastic goodies, but with real candles (terrible
fire hazard!) and 33 red and white paper roses, along with other traditional anthroposophical
symbols.

Soon the clocks turn and we look forward to lighter days and a peaceful 2007 to us all!

Ruth Wilson

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