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Earlier today I had a meeting with Sue and Janet, two ladies from church. The purpose of the meeting was to continue planning for a "Quiet Day" which we are having at Priory on 17 December. After I had made tea/coffee for us (always the best was to start a meeting!) Sue produced out of her bag some Time Out chocolate bars. I must say that the chocolate went very nicely with my coffee.
The slogan on the wrapper was, "Everyone needs some Time Out". How appropriate, I thought, as we were meeting to plan a Quiet Day! The whole purpose of the Quiet Day is to give people the opportunity to take some time out from what can often be a hectic and very busy time in the run-up to Christmas. We are hoping to provide an oasis of quiet and reflection as a kind of antidote to the hussle and bussle of the season.
We are taking as our theme "Stations of the Nativity", and will be setting up a number of prayer stations where visitors can stop and reflect on elements of the nativity story. There will also be suggestions for practical responses and prayers. The final stage of the journey will be the manger itself. Just like the wise men, we will be given the opportunity to worship the Christ child. I am excited at the possibilities of the day, and how it might bless those who come.
To come back to the Time Out bar, there is, of course, a sense in which its slogan is a very Biblical one. Time out, or rest, is a God ordained element of life. There is an occasion recorded in the gospels when Jesus said to the disciples, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.' We live in such a busy society, everyone rushing around, people in a hurry, no time for.... Even in the wonderful Christmas season we can become so tied down with planning and preparations that we don't allow ourselves any time to step aside from the rush, and focus on what really is the heart of Christmas - the birth of Jesus, God's Son.
We are not machines. We were not created to become workaholics. We need times out to rest and reflect.
I'm still experiencing the after-glow of a great Christmas. On Christmas day itself we had all our three children with us, two of them with their marriage partners. We attended Christmas Day service at church, which was fairly informal and a great way to begin the celebrations of Jesus' birth.
We opened some presents before church, the rest when we returned, as we waited for Christmas dinner. I had some excellent presents this year (including two sonic screwdrivers!) After dinner we played games and had many laughs together. A lovely family day.
On the Wednesday after Christmas we hosted the annual family party, when we welcomed around 25 members of our wider family. Although the day was hectic and noisy, it was another much enjoyed occasion.
The only sour note from the holiday period came when Caz, our elder daughter, received a phone call from her landlady in Llanelli to say that there had been a pipe burst in the loft of her house which had cased major damage. Naturally this was very upsetting for Caz, especially as her house contents were not insured! It was clear that the damage to the house would make it impossible for Caz to continue to live there. As a consequence, she had to cut short her stay with us and travel back to Llanelli, accompanied by Sue (mother-comfort is a great thing in hard times!)
To cut a long story short, within the space of just a few days they managed, along with help from church friends, to clear Caz's belongings out of the house (they were stored temporarily at church), find a new (and better) house, buy some new items for the house, and get Caz moved in before she was due back at school (where she teaches) today!
Compared with the disaster which this episode could have turned into, something of a miracle has taken place. Caz is so delighted with how things have worked out. I can't help thinking of a verse in St Paul's letter to the church in Rome, where he writes, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Rom. 8:28). As we approach a new year, with all its apparent uncertainties, how fantastic to know that if we put our trust in God, he can weave even the toughest of situations into something good.
Christmas is just about my favourite time of the year. It's a very busy time for me, with lots of special Christmas services and events, but it's a time I love. This is not least because of happy childhood memories of Christmases past. I love the Christmas lights on dark nights, the carols and special events, the Christmas meals, the time to spend with friends and family, and, of course, the amazing story which lies at the heart of Christmas: God stepping into our world through his Son, Jesus.
For many years we have welcomed Sue's mum to stay with us for a few days over Christmas. She generally stays 3 or 4 days, but then likes to get back home to her cat! This year, Sue was due to pick her up a couple of days before Christmas day. The weather had been very cold and icy, and Sue's mum, no longer a spring chicken, was warned not to venture out on the snow in case she had an accident. Of course there are some folk who think they know better! She did go out, slipped on the ice, and quite badly hurt her right arm.
By the time she arrived at our house the arm was quite bruised. Our future son-in-law Matt, a doctor, advised that we take mum to A&E for an x-ray. The x-ray indicated a broken humerus (not funny!) Her arm was given a temporary pot, and a further appointment was made for the following day. On the following day the hospital decided that mum required a pin inserting in her arm to aid the healing process. The latest news from the hospital is that the operation may be on Tuesday (two days' time). Mum was originally due to return home today, so she is somewhat concerned. Happily she has a good neighbour who is taking care of the cat.
Fortunately my mother-in-law doesn't have a computer or internet access (like my own mum, she probably doesn't have very much idea of what the internet is). She won't, therefore, mind me using her as an example of someone reaping the consequences of her actions. Although she had been advised not to venture out in the snow, she ignored the advice, and now she is reaping the consequences.
The Bible often talks about human responsibility for the consequences of our own actions. It also tells us that when we don't live in the way God has shown us, there will be consequences. The truth is that the vast majority of problems and suffering in our world today are caused by disobedience to God's will. Just think, for example, of the transformation which would take place in our society and world today if people lived by the ten commandments! The Bible calls disobedience to God's will sin. Sin has consequences - separation from God, our relationship with him is broken. The good news of Christmas is that through faith in Jesus, that broken relationship can be restored, and we can receive forgiveness. As the apostle John puts it, "This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." Thank God for Jesus! And as the angels said to the shepherds, it's good news for ALL people!
Earlier today I had a meeting with Sue and Janet, two ladies from church. The purpose of the meeting was to continue planning for a "Quiet Day" which we are having at Priory on 17 December. After I had made tea/coffee for us (always the best was to start a meeting!) Sue produced out of her bag some Time Out chocolate bars. I must say that the chocolate went very nicely with my coffee.
