A long time ago…

It’s that time of year, excitement is building, kids are getting ready. Yes, a new Star Wars movie is due. Anyone who reads my blogs will know that I have my tongue well and truly in my cheek.

We were in Dawlish last week and we heard that someone had committed suicide at the railway station. Christmas is for many people a time of loneliness and sadness. If you are ill or limited that is exacerbated even more. Seeing bright lights and cheery smiles can just highlight unhappiness in yourself. Often we don’t focus on our pain and difficulties. After all it’s better to be positive. But how hard is it to keep that up when everywhere you turn the message is about fun and excitement.

I started with Star Wars for a reason; it’s make believe, it’s fiction. Life is not a movie, life is not perfect, life is messy, life is full of difficulties and trials. Yes there are good times and joys. But there are also tough times. My point in saying that is this applies to everyone. It’s easy at Christmas to see the images around us and think that it’s only us who are suffering. That is not true. Many people find it tough. We are not alone. You are not alone. Big smiles often hide broken hearts.

It’s easy to discount the central message of Christmas. A baby in a manager. Just a kids story, irrelevant, boring, untrue. But Jesus is the only person who makes sense of everything. He didn’t stay a baby. He is real, he is relevant and he is true. You might think, yeah he’s ok but his followers are a bit rubbish. All those church folk. There are certainly a lot of imperfect people who go to church. What a relief eh? That means you don’t need to be perfect to go to church. Church isn’t about the people who go to it. It’s about God.

Church is a family and family is a warm and strong unit that can support and help us. Yes families also get it wrong and occasionally cause each other pain. We are human. But family is great and at this time of year if you are feeling isolated and alone isn’t family what you want? Try dropping into a church and see what I am talking about. Who knows you might like it.

A long time ago… well actually now you might be struggling. It’s a tough time of year. But don’t give up. Maybe try the Church see if you can find family there. If that’s not your way forward, then chat to a neighbour, a friend or find someone to talk to. But please don’t give up.