Of Angels and Men

Snow angels and and men that is!  The snow is still here and this afternoon the Millers all headed out into the garden to create snowmen and mayhem!  I know you will be familiar with my love of the snow from my last post but we had great fun in building what turned out to be a snowman in an armchair! (I hope you're impressed).

When you are working with a family and snow one things becomes apparent very quickly.  At one moment a head is in place and next it is being hurled as a giant snowball at you back as you turn your attention to an arm or nose.  The snowman began as one thing and as we worked quickly became different.  Each of us had a concept of what the snowman could look like, and at times he was very imbalanced.  At one moment a waving arm was turned into a leg or simply a heap of snow.  We worked first as individuals, and eventually as a family to produce the finished article.  (Pictures to appear on FACEBOOK).

There was a lot of laughing and a few cross words but we shared the vision of getting a snowman built.  The problems along the way were quickly forgotten when we stood back to admire our work.  If an arm (or head) broke off it was easily fixed with another armful of snow!

I thought as I worked at replacing an arm that had ended up in my hand (not on the snowman) that building a snowman might be a good modern parable of how we build the church.  We are to share a vision and remember that God has given us the tools (snow) to build with. When we get it wrong or destroy what has been built, God can renew. 

Advent is a time to prepare for the celebration of Jesus' first coming as we look forward to His Second!  We aren't simply gazing into the air waiting we are building the Church and hoping it will look like Him.  The Church is after all His Body here on earth!  Our building, repairing, healing and vision should be a message of hope to others.  Be blessed this Advent.

Snow angel

It has been snowing here for a couple of days now.  The place is mostly covered in white.  (At least the green areas are).  The temptation is to sit at the fire and look out at the kids running around in the snow with their clothes getting more snow covered and their faces getting more red! However, a cry went up, "Daaa deee!" And who was I to refuse such a call?  I plunged out into the white wilderness.

There is something very enjoyable about running through the snow.  I spent about half an hour running after the children throwing snow over them and then the challenge of challenges: the Snow Angel!

My wife, Alison, challenged me to make a snow angel.  To the uninformed this involes lying down flat on your back in the snow and swishing your arms and legs.  A little like doing a star jump whilst lying on your back.  The result is a Snow Angel!  The result was amazing.  The angel was excellent, even if I say so myself.  However, I must also confess to having been a little reluctant at first.  It is not entirely natural to ly down in wet snow on the flat of your back.  But it is worth it!

The Christian life can be a little like that.  I know in my own journey to faith and indeed in the early days of following Jesus. I was a little reluctant.  But what I have discovered is that the call of God leads to greater fulfillment.  There have been times when He has called me, I have heard His call clearly but I have hesitated. Yet when I have eventually responded positively I have found that it has indeed been worth it.  The choices God has propelled me towards have not always felt natural to say yes to but in hindsight they were the best decisions!

Jesus taught that we need to become like little children to enter his Kingdom.  I wonder is part of taht calling to cast off our concerns and run headlong into the future knowing that we are answering the call of One who loves us and who is calling us to join him in the joy of living fully!