PAUSE

Traditionally this time of year is so busy that there is little time to pause and be actually present with the positive side to the Christmas festival, but it’s actually amazing when we pause how we can become aware of our senses and actually experience new sights, sounds, and smells, it can be as though we can taste and touch these experiences, even more if we pause in silence the senses are heightened and somehow have a relaxing and healing effect.

This Christmas could be difficult with lack of singing in churches and public places.Tinned music just doesn’t cut it does it? Whilst thinking about this I heard a programme about a church pastor who set up an international choir called ‘Voices of fire’ hearing the auditions and depth of engagement the singers made I couldn’t help but realise that singing is a ‘full body and soul experience.’ One young woman was born without an ear so she had less than fifty per cent hearing but her singing was amazing her soul sang.

The heart is like a metaphor for happiness so often people will say ‘ my heart isn’t in Christmas this year’ and if you are aware of their circumstances you may know they are lonely, perhaps recently bereaved, so here comes another word ‘listen’ hopefully our periods of’pause’ will focus us to be able to listen, to have space to hear, and even at a distance, this caring courtesy may bring hope and a touch of Christmas at the heart of both us and the other person.The heart is such an important life giving organ, and as a metaphor it opens up a vista of thoughts and feelings, love, hate, pain, fear and resentment to name just a few. The message of Christmas brings unconditional, unbelievable love which can change those negative thoughts and feelings currently at work in our hearts. That great classic ‘A Christmas carol’ by Charles Dickens has this quote from Scrooge

”I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year..I will live in the past, the Present, and the Future.The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons they teach.

Charles Dickens:A Christmas Carol Tags:Christmas

This master of proses makes our responsibility clear and leads to another aspect of’heart’ Did you know the heart can sing? Joy is one of the messages of Advent think:

HOW CAN MY HEART SING THIS CHRISTMAS?