Dear Congregations

Although a WHITE Christmas is something I’ve only ever seen on the telly and on Christmas cards before I moved to Scotland, I knew very well it existed; but BLACK ice is something I have never heard of before settling down here! And if I can be completely honest, I don’t like driving when the temperatures plummet, because I’m always so scared my car will skid on the ice.

But children look at things through completely different eyes… When we had our first wee cold spell of the winter a couple of weeks ago, our paving was completely covered in black ice. I heard my boys giggling outside and I thought I should better go tell them to be careful they don’t slip and fall, but when I went out to see what they were doing, I couldn’t help but smile. They were “ice skating” on the paving, having the time of their lives as they entertained each other and tried to stay on their feet.

And while I was standing there, looking at them, I thought that we grown-ups should look at life through children’s eyes more. Because we always try to do the right thing, I think it can happen that sometimes we only focus on the dangers of something, and in this way miss out on the fun altogether.

So let’s go into Advent and Christmas and the New Year like children: filled with anticipation, hope, and excitement. Because God wants us to see the beauty and experience the magic of his Son’s birth, and the start of another new year.

And when the “roads of life” get icy, let’s try not to skid, but rather to skate. Let’s make the most of every situation we find ourselves in!

I hope to see you all at the Christmas Eve Family Service on the 24^th of December, at Polbeth Hardwood, 6:30pm; and/or at the Watchnight Service at the West Kirk on the same night at 11:30pm.

May you all have a happy Christmas and a blessed 2020!

God bless,

Nanda