At the time of writing this it is two weeks until Christmas, and it’s hard to put my thoughts to the New Year, when there is so much yet to happen. Hopefully you all had a nice Christmas, and hopefully some of the message of Christmas has touched your life.
I have a love- hate view of the way we treat this special time. I love the idea of remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus, this wonderful story which never seems to fade. I love singing carols, and seeing the joy on the faces of children, the nativity plays, midnight mass, families and friends getting together, remembering loved ones far away and those who are no longer with us.

I dislike the tacky commercial face of Christmas. I like to think of this as a time of reconciliation, a time to make up and start again with renewed love for each other. I took my grandchild to Christingle tonight, she loved it. Together with lots of other children she stood in the darkness with her lit candle in a huge circle around the church as we sang ‘Silent Night’. She was so excited, and I am sure she will remember it long after the memory of her presents has gone.

The best times in my life as I look back, have always been the ones, which have come through the heart. The love shared between family and friends old and new. Refreshing walks, soaking up the sights and sounds and the beauty of nature. Conversations. Listening to, and singing and playing music. Waking up after a good sleep, with the sun shining through my window and the birds singing. Seeing a real Van Gogh painting for the first time.

I know life’s not simple, and it’s hard to find the time to relax. But maybe our resolution should be to ‘Try and make the time to appreciate each other more.’ As for this New Year ahead. Well I am very much looking forward to it with my usual optimism. I wish only for good health and pray God’s blessings for my family and friends and everyone else. And for all of us to try and make a difference, by caring more, and actively doing more to make this world a better place for our children and all of us to live in peacefully.

Happy New Year.
Gordon Jackson