This month’s letter is from Reader Jan Lees
The harvest is in. The clocks have gone back. The year is turning, drawing to a close. Later this month the church year ends and we begin again with Advent. It’s a time to consider endings and to look towards new beginnings – whatever they may turn out to be.
Doing things differently because of the strange times we’re living in has been a mixed thing, hasn’t it? I rather enjoy the slower pace of my life at the moment – the going out less, but when I run into a friend I haven’t seen in a while I don’t enjoy keeping my distance. I look forward to the day when I’ll be able to give them a hug.
Advent is supposed to be a strange time, I think. We’re supposed to watch and wait, to long for God to come to us, to hope for his coming. But it’s hard to do that when we’re already thinking ourselves into Christmas. We’re like time travellers with one foot in the departure lounge and one in arrivals…
This year will be different. Quieter. Make the most of it. As we stand at the tail end of the church’s year do a little inventory. There might be some things you should just let go. Do that. There will be some things you need to give thanks for. Do that. The year begins afresh any minute now. And the new growth might be just like the old. Or it might be something new and surprising. God delights in surprising us, I think – delights in making all things new. So we move on doing things differently – or maybe just doing different things. Either way we’re not on our own. God is with us every step of the way. Enjoy the journey.
Jan Lees
Latest Comments