Last Sunday I was told off in the nicest possible way for not keeping the blog entries at least up to date. The last one was in September and this is now December, but to me it seems like only last week I did it! Honest! Time just seems to fly past with no regard to season or person. Already there is the typical Christmas rush to get stuff bought. There were Christmas items in my local supermarket before Halloween and I think many feel like mice on a tread wheel running harder and harder just to catch up and never quite making it. This advent we are looking at those who bore witness to the events and this week we are thinking of the shepherds. They were on the edge of their communities so much past them by as they were stuck out in the fields. Slightly disconnected from society, the last to hear what was going on. They were the first to hear the Good News of Immanuel – God with us. I have often wondered why they were the first to hear. Was it because they were on the margins, relatively poor and these could be good enough reasons – but perhaps it was because they were waiting and watching. There is not much to do in a field at night, but gaze at the stars as you listen for the signs of danger. Perhaps being able to wonder what this thing called life is all about. It may be that they were first to hear because they were actually listening.

How often do we complain about the commercialisation of Christmas, every year it gets worse, but we still play along. We moan about it, but still do it. Have you tried sitting listening for the echo of the first Christmas coming to your inner ear? To hear the call to come form where you are to meet with God, the one who reveals himself to us in a way we can relate to. I hope you can take time over the season to stop – wait – listen and hear God wants to be with you, will you invite him to your Christmas celebration – after all it was his first.