ADVENT

Whilst I’m aware individuals and or groups may view. ‘Advent’ in various ways for the Christian Advent is about expectation the coming of the baby Jesus is the greatest story ever told! However during my lifetime I have noticed that the ethos for some has become more and more selfish wanting to forget difficult people and not caring about the ill and alone. I know that the opposite is also true as I have witnessed a movement of interest, developing compassion, and practical caring for others.

It seems to me that the Covid crisis lockdown and social distancing has had the benefit of helping us to enter into others aloneness because we are experiencing it too, for some of us the experience has awakened empathy and creativity that when shared with others has allowed us to make meaningful connections with ourselves and others.

The coming of the vaccine for the pandemic has introduced hope and how appropriate this is at Christmas time! I once acted as a consultant for staff who worked with the severely mentally ill, my role involved debriefing staff in a weekly meeting.I shall never forget the way both staff and patients carried the psychosis at Christmas, patients who had no hope of having visits from relatives over the festive period hung their sandwiches on the Christmas tree and engaged in other more difficult behaviour.The atmosphere was eerie and touched the soul.It seems to me that when we have an experience like this the positive side of it is there also, it creates a determination and or impetus to change the way we do things,whilst we cannot change others we can be a force or influence for change in how we live our lives and how we behave in a crisis.

Hope is essential for good health ,faith, and positive living. Hope allows one to aspire to our ongoing goals and to create new ones. Hope helps people deal with difficult times and life situations it motivates people to make efforts sometimes beyond what they even expected themselves. Hope clears away the dross and takes us out of the physical and mental corners we ‘holed’ up in, it takes us out unto the main road with a reliable \satnav/ for guidance.

Hope when it fosters the fruition of our goals is, to coin that American word ‘awesome’ it opens our eyes to new possibilities. Advent is a great example of hope as expectation something wonderful happened when Jesus was born wonderful is not the word! I think this will be the best Christmas of my lifetime because it is taking us back to basics challenging us all to create a safe Christmas setting aside greed and negative dynamics to embrace hope.

LET’S DO THIS!

BE OF GOOD COURAGE,AND HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART, ALL YE THAT HOPE IN THE LORD. PSALM 31:24 KJV

Make Evelyn’s mince pies.

INGREDIENTS

6 OZS OF MARGARINE OR BUTTER

3 OZS OF CASTER SUGAR

9OZS OF PLAIN FLOUR

A PINCH OF SALT

METHOD

BEAT TOGETHER THE MARGARINE AND SUGAR UNTIL IT IS CREAMY ADD FLOUR AND SALT AND MIX IN.GATHER INTO A BALL WITH FLOURED HANDS. PLACE IN A ZIPLOCK BAG IN THE FRIDGE FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR.

CUT INTO ROUNDS TO FIT A GREASED PATTY TIN SHOULD MAKE 12.FILL EACH ONE WITH SWEET MINCE OF YOUR CHOICE.DAMPEN THE EDGES OF EACH PIE SO THAT YOU CAN ATTACH A TOP. BAKE AT 180 IN THE CENTRE OF THE OVEN UNTIL GOLDEN, SPRINKLE WITH CASTOR SUGAR.LEAVE TO COOL A LITTLE BEFORE REMOVING FROM THE TIN.