Come sit with me

These seats are in the front area of my old primary school in Stonehaven - Arduthie Primary. They weren't there when I attended the school some 40+ years ago. I came across them on a recent visit to the town and was intrigued by them. It got me thinking. Who would I like to sit with me on these seats if I could choose anyone. My immediate thoughts went to love ones no longer with me - family and friends. Then I thought of famous people who I could chat with and learn from. Perhaps one or two of my favourite movie stars or musicians could join me. Oh and of course, some of my favourite authors too.

These thoughts reminded me of a reflective meditation that I undertook during my ministry training. We were invited to imagine that we were sitting at a table with Jesus and could choose where we sat in relation to him. It is an interesting exercise. Would you sit right next to him so that you could whisper in his ear and share your innermost thoughts and feelings? Would you sit opposite him and gaze on in wonder - God among us? Would you sit as far away as you could  - in awe and humility? Would you have him at the top of the table teaching you? Would you have him surrounded by children to watch how he interacted with them and them with him? Would you choose to simply sit at his feet?

Whoever you choose to sit with you, may you enjoy their company this evening.. 

Green heart of the snowdrop

Green heart of the snowdrop - Kate McIlhagga

Into a dark world

a snow-drop comes.

a benison of hope and peace

carrying within it a green heart

a symbol of God's renewing love

Come and inhabit our darkness

Lord Jesus Christ,

for dark and light

are alike to you.

May natures white candles of hope

remind us of your birth

and light our journey

through life and beyond.

My kitchen is for dancing

When we were on holiday in America at a theme park there were warning signs in some of the rides. They were pictures of a moving  man with  a line through him - the message was to stay seated and not move around. As a family were would joke that the signs meant 'no dancing'. Whenever we saw similar signs we would point them out and say 'look - there is no dancing allowed here as well!'

My daughter came across this picture of an apron - "My kitchen is for dancing". And I endorse that whole-heartedly. In fact you can dance anywhere in my home.  For many years I was a highland dancer and thoroughly loved every minute that I was dancing. As a couple we love to dance and enjoy nothing better than a good ceilidh. As people often lose themselves in the music so too you can lose yourself in a dance.

Jesus himself is, as we sing, is the Lord of the Dance. May we follow in his dance steps - in the kitchen, the dining room or wherever we find ourselves this evening.

A Little Child

A little child,

a shining star,

a stable rude,

the door ajar,

yet in this place,

so crude, forlorn,

the hope of all 

the world was born.

Anonymous


Wishing you all a wonderful, peaceful, joyful Christmas.

Unwrapping the gift

There were twin boys of five or six. Worried that the boys had developed extreme personalities — one was a total pessimist, the other a total optimist — their parents took them to a psychiatrist.


First the psychiatrist treated the pessimist. Trying to brighten his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the little boy burst into tears. “What’s the matter?” the psychiatrist asked, baffled. “Don’t you want to play with any of the toys?” “Yes,” the little boy bawled, “but if I did I’d only break them.”


Next the psychiatrist treated the optimist. Trying to dampen his out look, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist emitted just the yelp of delight the psychiatrist had been hoping to hear from his brother, the pessimist. 


Then he clambered to the top of the pile, dropped to his knees, and began gleefully digging out scoop after scoop with his bare hands. “What do you think you’re doing?” the psychiatrist asked, just as baffled by the optimist as he had been by the pessimist. “With all this manure,” the little boy replied, beaming, “there must be a pony in here somewhere!”


That is one of my favourite stories on being optimistic. There must be a pony in here he cries! 


At Christmas each year we symbolically unwrap again and again the wonderful gift that we have been given in Jesus. There is no need to be pessimistic about this gift and every reason to be full of optimism and hope. This gift surpasses all others and can be unwrapped every day and at every occasion.