The trees have lost their leaves. Winter is coming now! There is something about winter that is lovely. There is a comfortable feeling about sitting in front of a fire snuggled up in big sweaters or wrapped in a rug whilst watching old familiar films on the television. Add in a cup of hot chocolate and a box of chocolates to eat and I could happily spend the winter hibernating in my lounge. I would look out my window at the raw nature. The bare trees make me think of the bare basics of life. There is nothing hidden. What we see is the core of it all. We see all the infirmities and the blemishes, but the tree still looks beautiful and majestic. There are many different shapes and sizes and places where they stand but their differences are what we enjoy. Wouldn’t it be good if we could apply this to our view of the world? If we could look at people in the same way. We could delight in the many shapes and sizes of everyone. We wouldn’t spend time wishing we were slimmer, taller, had blonde hair and of course a smaller bum. The colour of the skin would be seen as a special attribute and where they lived would urge us to explore. I think we are working towards this Utopia but not there yet. This month of Christmas celebrations and general bonhomie could be a time to reflect on this. God loved everyone equally. He didn’t see colour or race, but into people’s hearts. In John’s Gospel it says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” It doesn’t say love those who are like you in size, shape, gender, colour, or any of the other qualities we hold so dear. Perhaps we need to close our eyes (figuratively) when we meet others. This month’s book is Babette’s Feast by Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixon). I first came across it as a film, so that could be another option.
God Bless
Maureen Kendall