The ship is rickety and rather modest. It is without pomp and glory, nothing luxurious and no glitter. A weathered rope lies on the deck and it seems as if the rust and dust that stick to everything have won the battle forever. The dining area is poorly lit, with a single globe that desperately tries to dissolve the darkness. 

This is where Danie is called aside, urgently by one of the men. His story is just like that of thousands of other men working at sea. He has the lowest rank on board. He is a nobody. He has no voice. No one sees him. He is not important. He has an anonymous face that does not warrant being named by most of the crew members. His story is about abuse and torture. On the open sea, there are no eyes watching whether rules are being adhered to. There you are the doormat, you do as you are told, because you are nobody. 

Similarly, the stable is rickety and quietly modest. There is also no pomp and glory, nothing luxurious and no glitter. A weathered rope lies on a bale of hay. It seems as if the rust and dust that stick to everything have won the battle forever. A single candle desperately tries to dissolve the darkness. But, that night was significantly different. A child was born and it is told that His mother wrapped Him in cloth, settling Him in a manger. 

Many probably walked past, because who pays attention to an unobtrusive stable? Could we hold those looking down at them responsible? They would have thought that someone born in a stable is simply a ‘nobody’. Who could have known that the Child is the Saviour and Prince of Peace? Who could have guessed that the Child in the simple stable would make each nobody a somebody?

Just so it is for the man sitting in front of Danie. The Child of the manger made him someone of value too. He is valuable enough for Danie to stop and not simply walk past him. It is necessary to stop in humility and empathetically to listen and remind him that the Child of the manger made him someone too. 

Now, with Christmas around the corner, our wish is that you experience love, care and empathy. You have value because the Child in the manger made each of us somebody. We, at the CSO, will continue without interruption, to remind those working at sea that feel they have no voice and consider themselves without value. Please consider helping us with this. A financial contribution can help strengthen our hands to reassure and remind each man working at sea, feeling like a nobody, about the Wonder of that night in the stable.

Blessed Christmas!

PS. Here is the link for the debit order: https://bit.ly/43khwDO  Please fill in and email back to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Our bank details are: Christelike Seemansorganisasie. ABSA. Current. 1520-230-226. Use your donor code as a reference. We keep praying for each other.