Christmas

What a gift to attend a Christmas eve candlelight service yesterday at my church. It is something I have looked for, for many years. The traffic was bad both to and fro, but it was really worth the forty minutes of travelling each way. The lighting of candles (passing on light from the Christ candle at the altar) at the end of the service, as we sang the final song expressed many things that words would only convey somewhat clumsily.

Today was more of a 'rush' as I spent many hours cooking - my brother's family dropped by and my children had their friends over. Not a very reflective day - except to 'worry' whether the turkey was cooked!

In the quiet of the night, as I ponder.......I realize that around this time each year, I would like to 'recollect' with gratitude the year that has been.......and what Christ's coming invites in the days ahead.....for in a few days, the year comes to an end and another beckons.

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited his people and set them free." (Luke 1: 68)