It's a mystery

With Christmas only a matter of days away for most of us the focus is on preparation. Even the simplest Christmas requires some preparing. Whether it is food to be bought, gifts to be wrapped or rooms to be readied for the visitors who will arrive soon activity is the order of the day.

In the midst of the activity there is little opportunity to pause, stop, reflect on the mystery of Christs birth.

Yet mystery it is. 

Why should God wrap himself up as a scrap of humanity?

Why would he do this via a betrothed teenager in what we now call the Middle East?

Why would he choose a stable for his arrival?

Or shepherds as his first visitors?

Why would wise men bring such bizarre gifts as gold, frankincense and myrrh?

There is mystery here - and wonder- wrapped in faith and hope. Don't be so active that you miss the mystery of Bethlehem.

Baggage and Fear

Baggage and fear.

Two things that get carried through Advent and grow at the same time. Today I am caused to wonder about these twins - through the story on the edge of the Christmas tale, that of Herod.

Here is a man that carries both baggage and fear: the baggage of being a roman puppet king, the fear that his power could disappear any moment, the baggage of personal failure in relationships and the fear that those who come to him might undermine his position - and no doubt many other things beside. His holding on and his terror causes him to enact a wicked law which leads to the slaughter of innocents. No wonder we tend to skip over this part of the narrative. I find myself having to pause at this point as our own news media have brought the story in recent days of the slaughter of innocents in a Pakistani school. Our hearts stop at this horror - our anger rises at the perpetrators. An act committed out of fear and the weight of assumed religious responsibility. A mourners simple placard reminds us that "Terror is not a faith".

In being drawn into the first or twenty first century story it would be easy to ignore baggage and fear on a personal level.

I wonder how many people carry the baggage of expectation this season? Someone expects them to behave in a particular way - maybe it's the friends who expect riotous behaviour from the mild, maybe it's a selfish spouse who expects more than can be given, maybe it is baggage from childhood that makes this time of year a burden. 

And what about fear? There are those that fear the actions of those close to them that over indulge, there is fear for some in every purchase and every keying in of their credit card PIN number - knowing they will never afford this Christmas.

The essence of advent, the sense of Christmas is in love - and perfect loves throws fear into the rubbish bin. The astronomers seek the one born King of the Jews in order to lavish Him with worship and their love; Jesus in sent into the world to show how much God lives the world.

His perfect love casts out fear, releases the baggage and leads to the most beautiful freedom of spirit imaginable.

Listen...

I When I woke this morning just before six o'clock - my normal time for getting up - I start a conversation with God. He said to me 'just listen'. I tried to rationalise with Him but he said again 'listen'. And so I went to my normal place to pray, didn't do the things I normally do but just listened.

God reminded me of the importance of hearing Him. He brings a message of peace and of challenge. He brings comfort and, in the right way, disturbance.

I felt a little bit like Zecharaiah who was placed in a position of only being able to listen until he named his son John.

I felt a little like Joseph who listened to the voice of an angel to reassure him that his life was to be changed beyond imagining.

I felt like a shepherd in the darkness of the night having my normality changed and presented with the chance to witness God at work.

I felt like a disciple hearing 'come and follow me'.

My 'Advent wondering' has taken me many places in the last three weeks or so. To 'just' listen is a place I must visit more often...

Who's coming for Christmas ?

Christmas is about 'gathering'. The coming together of generations of families to celebrate the Holy Family.

Advent is about anticipation and waiting with expectation.

There is a romantic notion that Joseph and the heavily pregnant Mary made a lonely way to Bethlehem across windswept plains and through lonely streets. This is depicted in film and on cards - the stranger born in a manger.

I suspect that the truth was quite different - Joseph was heading to Bethlehem because there was a census to be held. Everyone had to be registered in their 'own town' so the whole family made their way to Bethlehem. Parents and children would have gathered en route to travel together to the placebos census. Every step bringing conversation and expectation of meeting up with those in the family who had not been seen for a long time. The Roman imposed census had presented the very family oriented people with an opportunity to get together. 

Christmas still does that - we have an opportunity to gather together once again, generation with generation, brother and sister, cousin, grandparent - even those who are unrelated are welcomed in...

Every year across the world the Advent of Salvation is acted out in our homes. And we miss the significance!

When Jesus came he came into community, he created community.

When we gather together unwittingly we are doing the same - we are recognising family bonds, the love that holds us together and, at the same time, welcoming in those who have no bloodline with us but share a relationship.

Christ's coming was for the family of the Jewish nation - and ultimately embraced the whole community of humankind.

Who are you welcoming into the community of your family this advent? 

A star; Promoted to Glory

I normally come to blogging, especially in Advent, with a definite lightness in my heart and hands. This is tinged today with the knowledge that over the last few days I have received news of numerous people who have ministered within the Salvation Army who have, as we say, been "Promoted to Glory". Today my thoughts king the star of the East will blend with my thoughts on these people.

As a child I used to love looking at the night sky, the 'space race' was very much part of my early years. I remember the Apollo missions (just) and recall the excitement of looking to the heavens with my white telescope and 'Observers Book of Astronomy' with the hope that I would have a vague idea of what was going on up there! I can still identify numerous constellations and even explain why some planets appear to go backwards occasionally. Looking at the night sky on a daily basis reminds me that this is a map of the universe with fixed points - never changing.

Which is why a star that stands still to guide men of wisdom fills me with wonder. A star should be moving with the rest of the universe. A star should twinkle in the back ground not point to a baby in a manger, directing the seekers.

My life has been full of 'stars' giving me direction, unfailing, full of faith, pointing the way to that same child in the manger.

And not only me but countless others - numberless as the stars in the night sky - individuals being so fixed on one point that they were people of integrity and direction. And the point they have been fixed upon is the one who was pointed to by that star - over the years, in his name, they have served as Salvation Army Officers and clothed the naked, fed the hungry, welcomed strangers and pointed the way to Jesus. Some have done this through practical service, leadership writing of music, leading of worship.

It is with a real sense of wonder that I give thanks for these people - and all who still direct towards Jesus. I pray that I will be a 'star' too.

Did you get everything?

When I was about nine years old there was one thing that I wanted for Christmas. I made sure it went on my list: a super safe.

In these days of iPhones and Playstations etc a money box that looked like a safe complete with tumbler lock doesn't seem much - but it was what I really wanted. 

Christmas morning came and, as usual, we made our way down stairs to see in the glow of the fire what had been left for us overnight. The coloured paper, the ribbons, boxes large and small, the twinkling lights on the tree and the wonderful aroma of the fruit that had been placed in the room overnight: this sensory richness was the introduction for the opening of presents. Being the youngest I would start, my sister, Linda next and so on. We had wonderful gifts that year, presents that took your breath away! So many things we had asked for and got - and more besides. My parents always ensured we had a happy Christmas. It was wonderful! The memory as vivid now as the experience was then.

A few hours of happy playing, eating, eating and playing and we got to Christmas dinner. Once again the senses were almost overwhelmed.

After Lunch my mum asked 'did you get everything you wanted?' 'Oh yes!' Chimed Linda and I, no doubt thanking profusely at the same time. 'Are you sure?' '...erm, ...yes?' 'What about this?' 

A final present was produced and handed to me: before I took the wrapping off I knew what it was: the Super Safe! My joy, and my Christmas wish list was complete!

Now there are a number of things that make me wonder here: the brilliant childhood that I had, truly happy, with my parents pulling out every stop to ensure we had a great time not only at Christmas but throughout the year. it can't have been easy - but they showed us such great love. I am filled with wonder and thankfulness.

Then there's the richness of Christmas reflecting the richness of that first morning in Bethlehem - assaulting the senses in a different yet no less powerful way.

What strikes me most when I wonder about this memory is my own selfishness. The gift that I thought so valued was completely forgotten in the generosity I received. Too easily are we swayed from our own thoughts and values and swept along with the excitement / drama of what is going on around us.

Over the 41 years after this event there have been times when I have been overwhelmed by what is going on to the point of distracting me from important issues- because I was focusing on myself.

I pray it is a practice I have left behind.

Ethical Christmas

I expected to be writing about Joseph this morning, however, as I prepared for the day through my devotions I was turned in a completely different direction: ethical Christmas Shopping...

A few weeks ago I was looking for something 'smart but cool' to wear ( for those that know me, you will realise that this is not a style that comes naturally to me) and felt that I had found the very things - but they were in an ethically dubious shop... What to do? The price was in my budget, they were available, they fitted my 'style requirements'...

Our normal practice in my family is to start with the charity shops, we've bagged many bargains over the years, saving literally hundreds of pounds. When we shop for gifts for others we normally focus on small independent local traders, a unique gift that is helping an individual as well as fulfilling our requirements is an extra special present. We even support the Salvation Army through the Secret Santa in the office. Ethical shopping is part of our general make up.

How do we know, however, that everyone in the production and supply chain is being treated fairly? Who defines what is 'fair' anyway? I could go shopping iPad in hand to check the ethical statement of every company but to be truthful I would just be in the way and take a lot of time.

As I wonder about this issue I reassure myself that I take an appropriate stand but also that I could do more - and will do more - not only at Christmas but throughout the year as well. A habit established regularly will surely equip anyone better than a simple seasonal adjustment...

And, if you were wondering, no I didn't buy the clothes. Like a wise man from the East I returned home by a different route.