Which Way? – Christmas Day 6 | Pam's Perambulation

Which Way? – Christmas Day 6

Sorry I just couldn’t resist By Alexander Minaev [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

When I was pregnant with our eldest son, we went on holiday to Windermere. Out on our walks we encountered several kissing gates. When you are pregnant, a kissing gate is a narrow gate and has to be manoeuvred through! Similar to trying to pass through a gate with huge antlers I would imagine (though I’ve never tried it with antlers!). Yet it is often through the narrow gates that lie the most interesting and beautiful places – protected from the hoards.

And, Nouwen reminds us, through the narrow gate is the way of God’s kingdom. It may not be the easiest way, the obvious way, or the way that most people would choose to travel – but it is God’s way.

Exploring always seems much more exciting through the eyes of a child – not daunted by steep inclines, rough ground, squeezing into gaps. Children see to the heart of things, they don’t see the “complications” that adults see. Nouwen suggests we need to see the world through the eyes, not just of a child, but of the Christ-Child – born that we might with him become a child again and re-enter the Kingdom of God that way. Seeing not with our eyes, but with his.

Luke 6:20-21

Blessings and Troubles

²⁰Jesus looked at his disciples and said:

God will bless you people
who are poor.
His kingdom belongs to you!
²¹God will bless
you hungry people.
You will have plenty
to eat!
God will bless you people
who are crying.
You will laugh!

Lord,

grant me your way of seeing things,

your way of doing things.

May I not be swayed by the easy way,

or blinded by my perceived complications.

Lord,

guide me,

I pray,

on the path you are calling me

This year for Advent – and into Christmas, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen. You’re welcome to join us on this journey. Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub

Also blogging on the #adventbookclub are:

http://www.likeasthehart.me.uk/

http://drbexl.co.uk/

http://clairemaxim1.wordpress.com/

http://runninglife.wordpress.com/

http://dorothy726blog.wordpress.com/