HAVE you noticed how we can either bring sunshine or dark clouds into a room?

A few weeks ago a group of people were asked, “What does hope look like for you?”

Nobody rushed to respond. “I hope to see the grandchildren this Christmas”, said one

“I hope I’m not alone”, said another. “Things don’t feel hopeful at present”, said a third person. The others agreed. The mood began to change and a dark cloud quickly descended.

Things have been tough for most of us. Anxieties high, people are tired. For many, money has been hard to come by and it’s been a hungry winter.

We’ve all lived with so much uncertainty and disruption. “Has there been anything good, this past year?” They were asked.

One spoke about volunteering at a Foodbank, another the friendships they’ve made among volunteers and clients at a Food Pantry. Others spoke about reaching out to neighbours, and the positive influence this was having. One spoke about work with refugees sharing some life stories of extraordinary courage and hope.

And the oppressive cloud began to lift as they spoke a bit about how love and loving kindnesses change things. Love doesn’t cost and there’s no tax on it! Love really blesses people. Love can give us peace and healing. Love can warm and brighten the room. Love can overcome hopelessness!

Love can also ache, can’t it! For those we’ve lost, we’re estranged from, we’re worried about.

At the heart of Christmas is God’s heart, seen in the baby in a manger. If we linger a bit before the image of the Christ-child, we see Love in all its beauty and pain. The baby isn’t simply a wonderfully ordinary baby - it is God himself. Jesus came into a dark, disoriented, disillusioned world - a place where hope was precarious. He came as the light bringer - he lightened rooms; he lightened hearts and would go on to lighten the darkest places.

The Christmas story is the promise that God loves us, God is with us and God will never leave us. Even in the darkest places and the darkest times, he is with all who call upon his name.

The angels celebrate the coming of the Lord to shepherds saying “ I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

And the shepherds had the curiosity and courage to go and see! They stepped into the unfamiliar and darkness in order to discover the Light that would overcome their fears.

May we too have the Christmas curiosity and courage to search out Christ. And in searching, may we discover the Light that will overcome our fears, and find the hope, love and peace our soul’s desire.

A very happy, blessed and safe Christmas to you all

Bishop Bev

Bishop of Warrington