A fold away funfair

On the busy A14 road, north of Cambridge, we found ourselves behind an unusual looking vehicle travelling fairly sedatedly. It was obviously a large piece of fairground equipment that had been inventively folded up between shutters. Brightly painted panels with intricate decorative strips peeped through, and nestling between them rows of coloured lights. Overtaking the vehicle I had hoped I might discover what sort of piece of fairground equipment it was. But packed away so tightly, it held its mystery. 

Disconnected from a generator it looked dead and inert. It took some imagination to visualize how it would appear on a dark Winter night. Bright lights, moving parts, and music creating wonder.  The first time I was taken to a fun fair is etched on my memory. I was six or seven and my father told me I had been suffering from flu, spending several days in bed. On recovering my father took me down to the market square in the centre of the village of Faringdon. Perhaps I had seen a picture of a fun fair but nothing could prepare me for the sheer rush of exciting immersion into this world of music, colour, and movement. My father put me astride a golden horse. As the carousel began to rotate and the horse rose and fell my father, reminiscing as an old man (which I now know all about), told me that I had a seraphic smile on my face, utterly transported into joy.  I can believe it.   

This fold-up piece of magic on the A14 vividly illustrates how this period of Advent is experienced by far too many people in our secular society. Christmas itself with all the trimmings - lights, decorations, tree, music, presents, food is an extravaganza opened up for celebration. For us, currently it is shut away in drab plastic boxes in the garage, to light up and delight in a few days time. Yet, soon it is over and packed away. A passing highlight.  The God truth of Advent and Christmas could not be more different. Of course it is spectacular that God should intervene in history in the flesh of a baby. There's so much to celebrate but it is not to be packed away as a seasonal moment. This is intervention for all time. The baby grows to become Saviour in the real world, our world. 

I am preaching again (it's rare nowadays) immediately after Christmas on so-called Low Sunday. I am drawn to finish the Christmas story in Matthew's gospel (Matthew 2:13-23).  I always believe in sharing good news and these verses are quite startling about what happens next to Jesus. Where's the good news? Well, I'm working on it. I'll let you know!