My prayer for you, in this holy season and as 2019 comes to a close, is that you will find and trace the Christmas story in your hearts and in the ordinary circumstances of your everyday life.
Where — here, today — the vulnerable Christ is found, asking to be held, to be loved, to be fed, may your eyes be open to see him and your ears be open to hear him when he cries.
At the present time, just coming out of the UK general election in which our people, like the American people, have voted in those who use power not even selfishly, but (more than that) disastrously for everyone including themselves, I am so heartsick I hardly know how to live from day to day. What we have put in place spells destruction for all that as Christian people we are called to protect and defend — creation, the poor, the sick and disabled, the stranger, the orphan and widow. As inequality widens and deepens, our mortality rate rises and the power of Mammon bites deeper, the grief and sorrow in my heart feels like more than I can bear. But this is where we are.
Here, in this time and place, and no other, we are called to lived the gospel, to gather up the fragments that remain so that nothing may be lost.
May your home, your conduct towards others, your daily choices, your personal relationships, be the warm handmade bricks to build the kingdom. May the love of Christ be realised in your life, and set you free from every clinging sin. May you be happy, may you be at peace, and may you be made whole.
Blessed feast of the nativity to you, dear friends; may Christ be born in your heart this holy night.
16 comments:
A brilliant call to arms, but peaceably, standing for all that is fair and true. It’s a strong message Pen, thankyou; you are an inspiration. Thank you for all that you share here. I find what you say encouraging and, importantly, embedded in real life.
Hoping you have a wonderful Christmas. With love, Deb x
Happy Christmas to you and yours, Deb. x
I wish you and yours a blessed peace and joy filled Christmas.
We have celebrated on Christmas Eve to try and avoid drams with our expanding family. Our darling little Mia brought us much joy and laughter. Mia played with our fabric nativity. It is a joy to witness Christmas through a child's eyes and this little one was loving and sharing of all her gifts. I love that the Lord was very much a part of this Christmas.
Best of all we had a good old heavy tropical storm throughout the evening and the rain stayed pitter pattering for a while after. We are expecting more rain today.
Oh — how my heart lifted when I saw the photographs of the Australian firefighters dancing in the rain! May it thoroughly drench the land.
And may 2020 be a year of blessing for you, Suzan.
I haven't seen photos of the firefighters dancing in the rain. My son share a home with a volunteer firefighter. This fire-fighter was fired from his job this week and his ex employer told him he was more keen of fighting fires than working. Also the prime minister has declared that he will not compensate those who have taken annual leave to fight fires. I am afraid I am not impressed with our country's leadership.
God bless your Christmas.
blessings and peace to all who gather here. thank you, pen, for inspiring us all, bringing us joy and gathering us together in this little pilgrim band!
Hello, Greta! Waving! Happy Christmas!
Hi Suzan — https://www.unilad.co.uk/news/aussie-firefighters-break-into-smiles-and-dance-as-rain-falls-on-bushfire-area/?source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0YE6g0-VJKj6ITR5sSK68qb54i13dUWKzbCQO1YljdgbGfAZEFtnDrXLU
I'm so sorry to hear of the lack of appreciation for the vital and courageous work of the firefighters. Yes indeed, we live in difficult times. More than ever it seems the world is relying on us to do our best to put into society what we once expected our leaders to supply.
I'm so sorry for what you are struggling with, and can, of course, relate. But, we must hold on to the light, and not forget the small things we can do, do make a difference. In this very uncertain time in my life I am warmed by the ability this blog allows me to connect with like minded people, no matter how far away. May your Christmas be blessed as you bless others.
DMW
Hello Pen,
This is such an inspiring message. This morning I have been reflecting what adjustments I need to make for 2020 and your writing has summed up my thoughts. Thank you.
Happy Christmas Pen. I too am heartsick with the election result and ashamed of our country. Yet I saw an interesting link on FB and although the British Isles is coveted in Tory blue, many folk voted Labour/Green, so much so if PR was in place we would have had a joint Govt of those two parties. Jack Monroe wrote an excellent piece on her blog entitled " What to do when you are depressed with the election result." Essentially it was a grass roots call to arms and to become those living bricks of the kingdom so aptly described by yourself. The light will always outshine the darkness and one way or another we will illumine the dastardly deeds of our current PM xx
So grateful for your writing this year, Pen. It is an anchor for me in a season of life where my attention is pulled in different directions by family, work for income, and all the work that needs to be done in the world. Blessed Nativity to you and your dear ones.
Hello my friends
Hi DMW — yes, I think finding your tribe makes all the difference.
Hi Firegem — lovely name; and my family and friends call me Ember, which is not dissimilar.
Hi San — Yes, it looks like the UK will complete its transformation into the ruling class and the rest of us, under this government. Back to the Middle Ages.
Hi Rachel — May you find a blessed middle way of simplicity and peace.
xxx
Another heartsick UK resident here. Your phrase 'I hardly know how to live' describes how I have felt since learning of the election result. Thank you for your wisdom, and for suggesting a positive, loving way forward. I will try, starting today. Sue.
I think one has to do the little things, close at hand.
May God teach us how to love, how to walk with Him, and live in His hope and peace. Much love to you dear Ember, and all your readers. xoxo
Amen — and love to you. xx
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