Christmas

So…here we are again. Christmas! I used to enjoy Christmas much more than I do now. Maybe it’s just because I’m older and more grumpy. Maybe it’s because it gets busy and, for people like me, there’s no break: it’s one service after another with little time in between to think and prepare. And the new year comes round remarkably quickly too, so there’s all that to prepare as well. One of the things I’ve done at Christmas for getting on the last twenty years, is to be part of the Thales Carol Service. It wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t make my trip there! And yesterday was this year’s Thales Carol service. So I took my guitar and amp, music and talk and went to Thales. When I got to reception, a voice said: “Hello Ian. You used to teach me!” Turns out I had taught the young lady the other side of the desk thirty years ago! Sadly, I could remember her brother’s name, but not hers! Ooops! We chatted about those school days and about her family. Last week I attended the Alzheimer’s Carol Service at the church, and afterwards a young man spoke to me, because thirty years ago I had taught him too! As I looked at him, I remembered him because I could see his mum in his face - his mum worked at the school and we got on well! As we chatted he said: “You ‘phoned us last year, Ian, when my dad died!” What? Did I? I asked him how he knew it was me. “You ‘phoned from East Surrey Hospital and I recognised your name and your voice!” I haven’t spoken to him in thirty three years! I ‘phoned the family in my role as a Chaplain at the hospital! Wow! It’s lovely to meet former pupils and to catch up with their lives, remembering things that happened a long time ago. And it got me thinking about Christmas. Perhaps the best thing about Christmas is to be reminded of something that happened a long time ago, and something, if I’m not careful, I might be inclined to forget: that at the centre of the universe is a loving God who came to be with us and do life with us. And still does! God comes into the mess. Again and again. If I am reminded of that at Christmas, that’s good for me. And for you. And everyone!