WISHING YOU A VERY MESSY CHRISTMAS Dear Editor, The column by Richard Leonard SJ (Joseph burst into tears, 5 December) has provided much amusement and reflection in Australia, and not because the author is an Australian Jesuit. It was amusing because of confusion and chaos in an Advent school play, and this reminded many of similar efforts to teach children about the meaning of Christmas by acting and song. But the reflection "It was the best nativity play I have ever seen because God is good with mess" was a profound insight into human behaviour. As the years roll by, so many of our friends have had marriage breakups, disaffected adult children, dreams for children unfulfilled, tragic illness and unexpected death. Life is a mess, because that’s what humans do, and God is there,