All that glitters is not gold

So another series of BBC's hugely popular "Strictly Come Dancing" comes to a glittering finale, with Abbey Clancy and her professional dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec walking off with the Glitter Ball Trophy, thanks to the votes of the great British public.  On balance, I think that with Abbey's remarkable development over the course of the series she and Aljaz were probably worthy winners.  Despite the fact that neither Sue nor I have much dancing talent, we have been keen Strictly fans almost from the beginning (the show first appeared in 2004).  It provides good family entertainment.

During the course of the final show last Saturday, the four finalists (and some of the other contestants who had fallen by the wayside during the series) were interviewed about their Strictly experience.  What was particularly interesting to me was the fact that they all described their time on Strictly Come Dancing as a "life-changing experience".  With great emotion, they talked about the blessing of being part of the Strictly family, the real, deeply-felt joy which they had experienced through dance, and the lasting friendships which they had made.  A number of them stated that being part of Strictly was just about the best experience of their lives. I must admit to being quite moved at times as the contestants expressed their thoughts and feelings.  It was clear that the joy and happiness at being part of Strictly was tempered to some extent by the fact that the series, and their part in it, was coming to an end.

As I was watching the interviews and listening to what was being said, it seemed that there is an obvious parallel with the Christian life and experience.  In church last Sunday we were looking at that passage in John's gospel where Jesus says to Nicodemus, the religious leader, 'no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.'   What Nicodemus couldn't grasp was that Jesus was talking about a spiritual birth into a whole new life with him; literally a life-changing experience, becoming part of the family of God, knowing the loving and living presence of God as a constant and life-enhancing reality.

The gospels give many accounts of people whose lives were totally transformed when they met with Jesus.  Over that last 2000 years or so, countless lives have been changed through an encounter with him.  Jesus is still in the business of changing lives.  It sounds as though the Strictly experience is wonderful.  But the problem is that it is restricted to a few celebrities, and it only lasts some 13 weeks.  The Jesus experience is for everyone, it is far deeper and more profound in every way, and it lasts for all eternity!

'There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Saviour was born - Christ the Lord!'  Luke 2:8-11