Don't leave it until it's too late

Christmas time is my favourite time of the year.  I guess that this arises partly through my happy childhood Christmas memories, when as a family we eagerly gathered round the Christmas tree on Christmas morning as Dad handed out the presents which were lying beneath the tree.  Then came the Christmas morning service at church, followed by Christmas lunch and some enjoyable family time together.  I can't say that watching the Queen's speech was on the agenda in those early days because for the first few years of my life we didn't have a TV!  We probably spent time playing games, having fun and generally enjoying each other's company.

I am not ashamed to say that the childlike excitement for and love of Christmas has never left me.  Even though Christmas can be a busy time for church leaders, with lots of special events and services during the period, I still love this time.  I love the lights, the decorations, the giving and receiving of gifts, the cards and letters from friends, special church events, the family times and all that goes with the season.  This year we hosted our annual family party at our manse, and it was just was well that we had moved to a bigger manse during the year as there were around 28 of us for tea!  Sadly, my brother Phil and his family in New Zealand were not able to be with us, but we were able to enjoy a video message from Phil (a bit like watching the queen's speech!)  Another Christmas of great memories.

I am very conscious, however, that for a significant number of people this Christmas will have been a far from happy time.  A couple of days before Christmas I received a phone call from a local funeral director enquiring whether I would be able to take two funeral services early in the new year.  Two ladies had died, leaving behind their husbands and families.  Losing someone is always difficult, but I wonder whether losing someone around Christmas might be particularly hard.  The bereaved have to face a time of immense sadness when many around are having fun and enjoying time with loved ones.  Not only that, but each succeeding Christmas will bring back memories of the loss.

One of the most talked about adverts of this Christmas was created by German company, Adeka.  It features an elderly gentleman who has to spend each Christmas alone because his family are apparently too busy to come and spend time with him.  He decides that the only way to get them to come is to fake his own death; when they arrive, thay are in for a big surprise!  You can watch the advert HERE.  It is a poignant and powerful reminder of the danger we all face of allowing ourselves to become so busy that we neglect vital relationships.  There will come a time when many of those close to us are no longer around, and our chance to spend time with them will have gone. We watched that ad in church on Sunday morning and we had a time of quiet reflection to consider whether there was someone we ought to make contact with.  Sometimes a phone call, a letter or a visit can mean so much.  Don't leave it until it's too late.

The cracked toadstool

Apologies to anyone reading my blog who has already heard me talking about my cracked toadstool!

I realise that envy isn't really a good characteristic to have, but there is a sense in which I really do envy those people who have the gift of using their hands creatively, either to make things or to fix things.  If anything goes wrong in our house, Sue is usually much more able at fixing it than I am, and despite my best efforts I was never any good at practical lessons at school (woodwork, metalwork etc.)  I have to console myself with the knowledge that God gives each of us different gifts and talents!

One of my churches held a Christmas Market a few weeks ago.  It was wonderful to be able to welcome many members of our local community into our church building.  The dance group which uses our hall put on a display of dancing; there was lots of scrummy food on offer, and many other opportunities to buy Christmas gifts.  There was also many opportunities for conversation.

As I wandered round, I came across a table containing lots of beautiful wooden objects which had skilfully been created by a friend called John.  I knew from past experience that John was good at making things, and he especially enjoys working with wood.  As I looked at the table, one object in particular caught my eye; it was a toadstool, which John had caringly shaped and polished.

When I pointed the toadstool out, John seemed a little sheepish, and reluctant for me to have it.  The reason?  Down one side was a large crack, which had apparently happened when the wood had dried out.  Despite the crack, I was really drawn to the toadstool, and I said to John that I was sure I could use it in a sermon.  'If you can use it in a sermon,' he said, 'I'll give it to you!'  I took advantage of John's generous offer, and also bought another item which I have used as a Christmas decoration.

Since that time, I have used the toadstool in two school assemblies and also at a carol service!  I'm not absolutely sure why, but I find it strangely attractive.  For some reason it stood out from all the other objects on the table, perhaps for the very reason that it was imperfect.  It now sits on a bookcase in my study, and I look at it often.  To me, at least, it speaks very powerfully of the Christmas message.

As God looks at the wonderful world he created, his heart breaks.  He sees the mess we've made of life, both as a whole human race and each of us as individuals.  We live in a 'cracked' world, and we are all 'cracked' people; far from perfect, far from God's intention for us.  Of course, God would have every right to wash his hands of us and discard us because of our many imperfections.  Yet in his great love he did the opposite, he came and lived among us, ultimately laying down his life so that we might know forgiveness and new life.

Every time I look at that cracked toadstool I think of our cracked world and I think of my cracked life, and I thank God for his amazing love.  That's why we celebrate Christmas.

’The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.’     Isaiah 9:2

Despised and rejected

I was reading this week the results of a survey which looked at people's attitudes towards certain professions.  The three professions which came bottom of the pile were politicians (who were at very the bottom), journalists and bankers.  The results are not surprising because, rightly or wrongly, there is a general attitude of mistrust and dislike towards those who work in these professions.

I have often heard it said that in the culture into which Jesus was born in the 1st century the job of shepherd was one which came towards the bottom of the pile in terms of social status.  In preparation for a short talk I am due to be giving, I thought that I'd do a bit of research to discover the reality about the status of shepherds in 1st century life.  It transpires that the poor old shepherds were even worse off than I'd expected!

One website I came across stated, "In Christ’s day, shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder. They shared the same unenviable status as tax collectors and dung sweepers."  Shepherds were officially labelled “sinners” - a technical term for a class of despised people.  Apparently The Mishnah, Judaism’s written record of the oral law, refers to shepherds in belittling terms. One passage describes them as “incompetent”; another says no one should ever feel obligated to rescue a shepherd who has fallen into a pit!  One commentator has written that, “To buy wool, milk or a kid from a shepherd was forbidden on the assumption that it would be stolen property.”  He also documents the fact that shepherds were deprived of all civil rights. They could not fulfill judicial offices or be admitted in court as witnesses.  All-in-all, we get a very dismal picture of the life of a shepherd.

Knowing these facts about shepherds makes the appearance of angels to announce the birth of the Messiah first of all to shepherds in a field all the more remarkable.  One would have expected that the amazing news would be announced first to priests or royalty.  Instead, the message of 'good news that will cause great joy for all the people' is given to humble shepherds watching over their flocks at night.

So what does this tell us?  Two important things, it seems to me.  Firstly, that Jesus Christ came into the world for ALL people, certainly not just for the rich or powerful. The good news proclaimed by the angels is for EVERYONE!   Jesus himself said, 'I have not come to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.' (Mark 2:17)  

The second point relates to the truth or otherwise of the account.  Some have suggested that the gospel stories were made up by the disciples to trick people into believing.  If that was the case, would they really make up a story which has shepherds (whose testimony is inadmissible in a court of law) as those who first heard about Messiah's birth?

The shepherds' involvement in the nativity story gives much cause for thought!

The ministry of prayer

On of the realities of life as a Methodist Minister is that one lives in a church-owned house.  In some ways that's a positive thing.  It means that if anything goes wrong with the house, or some remedial work needs doing, then someone else looks after it.  There are, however, two main downsides with living in a manse, the first being that because it doesn't belong to us we are not free to do what we like with it, as we would be if it was ours.  We are always aware that it's not our property, and after we move on someone else will come to live in it.

The second main drawback with living in a manse is the fact that it is not only our home but it is also the base for my working life.  When I worked as an accountant, after work I went home, and there was a clear separation between my work life and my home life.  Generally speaking, I could leave work issues at work; home was for my personal and non-work life.  Living in a manse, there is no such clear separation.

Partly with that in mind, some years ago Sue and I bought a little flat in Scarborough.  Our intention was that we could use it as a "bolt-hole," and when we lived in Doncaster we were able to nip up to Scarborough fairly regularly.  It's not so easy now that we live in Leicester, but perhaps because we get up there relatively infrequently these days, we appreciate the opportunities even more.

One of our tasks before we leave the flat to return home is to read the gas and electricity meters.  Reading the gas meter is a relatively straightforward matter; the electricity meter is somewhat more problematic, because it is situated in one of the other flats.  The day before we were due to return home after a recent visit, Sue nipped down to read our meter.  When the lady who owns the flat opened the door, they got into conversation.  We don't know the lady well, though have seen her and chatted briefly on occasions.  Neither do we know much about her background, but as far as we were aware she wasn't particularly a "religious" person.  

The lady shared with Sue about a particularly difficult and intractable health issue which she was facing.  Sue's response was to say, "I'm not sue what I can do to help, but I can certainly offer to pray for you."  With that, the lady collapsed into Sue's arms, gave her a big hug, and said "Oh, thank you, yes please!"  Sue was able, there and then, to pray with her about the situation she was facing.  The lady was so very grateful for the offer and experience of Sue's prayer.  It was a real expression of Christian love and compassion, and I'm not sure whether I would have thought to have even made the offer.

Over my years as a Methodist Minister I have met lots of people through funerals, weddings etc., many of whom have little or no church connection.  Yet in the vast majority of occasions when I have offered to pray before I leave, the answer has been "yes please."  I never force it on anyone, but most are delighted with the offer.  Prayer is such a wonderful gift to us.  Through it we connect with our Creator; through it God touches us in ways we perhaps cannot fully put into words.  To paraphrase a former well-known advert, prayer reaches things nothing else can reach!