Well, last night Southend was placed in Tier 4 of Covid restrictions. A bit of a shock to the system and I felt pretty flat . No trip to see the girls; a “virtual” Christmas looms. But I’m definitely not the only one “home alone” this extraordinary year…
I was struck on the news at lunchtime by a short clip of Palestinian Christians aiming to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem (amazingly bagpipes play a role…) A minority within a minority, often rejected by their own people and by Israelis, with very few tourists this year to sustain them economically. A tough situation. Please pray for them.
We tend to romanticise Christmas but it was tough for Joseph and Mary all those years ago. Teenagers required by the emperor of the occupying army to travel 70+ miles and unable to find proper accommodation. We are grounded; they were forced to journey. Hardly a promising context for God to enter our world…
But however dark things seem that is not the end of the story. The heavy showers and bright sunshine produced beautiful rainbows yesterday. Yes, there is always hope…
Yesterday, someone sent me a cheque for £250 for 60@60. Huge thanks. The biggest single donation I have received by far and a complete surprise. Such a blessing when I was wondering where the next donation was coming from. So often we-I-try and figure things out but often what we’re called to do is simply trust.
Whatever you are facing this Christmas and whatever challenges you face you are never alone. Hope remains. And that’s the same whether we are in UK or Iraq.
Adrian@60 