Advent 8

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Kath

IMG_2447.jpg

Today the wonder seemed almost obvious.

The face of my favourite and best grinning at me this morning, laughing away my tired aching grumps from a night of being kicked in the back by the smallest. The face I married 8 years ago. The wide grin, missing for much of this year, the goofy tone to his voice and brief morning snuggles before the small people found us and wormed their way into our arms.

The morning run in crisp air, frost on the ground, the moon and sun shining out together in the sky. Delighting in clear brightness again after a few days of cloudy dark gloom.

Writing about a new heavens and a new earth. Feeling the ache for more, the delight of one day this world being wrapped up and made new. Glad of the chance to witter on about that on Sunday morning.

Sorting out the house, cleaning, ordering chaos.

Getting the Christmas tree down. Boys delight in putting the decorations on and covering the house with fairy lights.

We are with Paul Simon. Getting ready for Christmas Day, for the power and glory and loving the story of Christmas Day.

Posted in Life on the journey | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Advent 7

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Kath

Hmmm. I think Thursdays in Advent will be throwback ones. Especially dark gloomy windy rainy Thursdays. It has not been the best day around here. And yet. Wonder exists. So I rather grumpily post this from the past and cling tight to some kind of hope in this world. Emmanuel is here. I suppose I should listen a bit to the me from 6 years ago.

“O Holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in,

Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas Angels,

The great glad tidings tell,

O come to us, Abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel.”

Emmanuel is the word that is most likely to send shivers up my spine. I can’t help but grin like an idiot when belting out the last verse of this carol. It’s all I long for deep down inside. That I could hang out with God, that he would abide with me. It’s a wonder that will not be drowned out by my cynisim, doubt, pessimism or whatever black thoughts I throw at it. Emmanuel and my heart sings, Emmanuel and I drink it in. Emmanuel and I am home again.

Posted in Life on the journey | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent 6

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Kath

(From a grumpy tired place. But I am forcing myself to recall the wonder. Rather than just crawl under the duvet at the end of this day).

On a gloomy December day. Barely any light around. I write of light in the dark, of hope that is deeper than the pain of this world. I read these words. I long for them to revive my soul. I pray that they would revive the souls of those in our church on Sunday morning when I shall be speaking about them and more.

For those walking in darkness there is a great light.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation

    and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

    as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice

    when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

    you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

    the bar across their shoulders,

    the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle

    and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

    will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

    and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

    with justice and righteousness

    from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this.

(Isaiah 9)

Posted in Life on the journey | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent 5

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Kath

Walking out of the door after a less than harmonious getting ready for school time. Asking. Asking for the wonder. Praying with the boys as they hurtle down the hill. Asking. Asking for help.

Reading with others of a God who does not let go, who answers prayers, who shapes the life of ordinary people. A God who wove together Ruth and Naomi and a man called Boaz to produce good in their lives and to produce the One who it’s all about many years later. Snapshots of the hope that it is never the end of the story.

Sitting in a room spilling out random thoughts to a half stranger who helps me notice and draw strands together and be aware that hope is in this place right now. The tangled tendrils of my mind making connections, seeing change, being aware of where there needs to be more. Starting with believing I have value, I am worth taking care of, then living freely from that core. Treasuring the wonder that I really can know these things because I have been wonderfully made. I am a masterpiece, a poem, a work of art. Oh to soar in love from that place of security.

Singing loud in the car on the way home, no one around to hear my shouting tuneless voice of wonder.

Tea with a friend. Laughing together. Sharing the weirdness of 3 year olds. The 3 year old dancing over to school to get the eldest. The rare blissful cooking together moment at the end of his day. Spilling out his day to me, unpressurised and full of interest. Us noticing prayers have been answered. He made it through what started out as a tough day. He is in a good space tonight. Cuddles. Kisses. Joy.

Walking around our block, shouting Christmas at the lights breaking joy into the darkness.

Exhaustedly stumbling to the end of the day. Through the snappy weary get to beds and to the story time cuddles and sleep noises.

The house is calm again. The heating hums in the background. I breathe. Wonder is all around, twisted through the impatience and ugly to make the dark beautiful and full of light.

Wonder is all around. And you?

Posted in Life on the journey | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent 4

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Kath
100_0425.jpg

This wasn’t the view on my run but it’s the only photo I have of what the sun was doing on my run…

Today the wonder hit me as I drove down the road, pondering friends who were going through tough times, wishing I could do more to help. The wonder came in the realisation that I had Someone who I could lift them up to. Someone who knows what it’s like down here. Someone who came and lived and promised to come back.  Whatever the mysteries of how prayer works the crazy reality is that there is Someone who cares deeply about my friends and who has everlasting arms of love, grace and redemption to wrap around them in this broken life we live. Advent draws me deep into the reality of that wondrous story. And fact or fiction, I’m with Puddleglum from The Silver Chair part of the Chronicles of Narnia…

“But there’s one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things-trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.”

Also. Running again for the first time in a week, back over the downs, watching the sunlight tear holes in the clouds and cast spotlights of bright on the grass below. Insane wonder is all around.

And you?

 

Posted in Life on the journey | Tagged , | Leave a comment