All of us notice and hold on to small things. If a cup of tea is not made right, it is a disaster. I am sure that coffee drinkers would say the same thing. We have recently restocked and renewed Altar linen in some of our parishes. This can seem like a small thing, but it is in the small things, as much if not more so, that we give God honour and glory. It is in the day to day and the ordinary through God has often manifested Himself. The patron Saint of Wales, S. David, has had a saying attributed to him. ‘Do the little things.’

I have felt in past years that many folk overlook Advent and the period of preparation for that event, which is far from small or little, namely the birth of Our Lord in Bethlehem. Much energy and mental space is giving to planning the big Christmas to top all past, be that with parties or presents. It is in the little things, the acts of unwarranted kindness and care that such events really come to be ones that are cherished. My ‘best’ Christmas, since Ordination, was one spent at a late Christmas lunch in the village social club with a mixture of families and people who are on their own. It was built upon the foundations of many a little thing.

A very good friend in that parish used to say, quite often, ‘Alright Vicar, it isn’t all about you know!’ How wise he is as indeed it isn’t all about me, rather it is all about God. God who took flesh as Jesus Christ.

G.K. Chesterton finished his poem, The House of Christmas, with the following:

‘To an open house in the evening
Home shall men come,
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.’

Let us rejoice in the small things this Advent; seek them out and cherish them all the more, for it in these that we shall be better able to sense the source of all, better able to sense God, better able to know our true home. Then perhaps we can say with greater depth words similar to those from the classic house hit covered and remixed time and time again.

‘Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air

I know I can count on you

Sometimes I feel like saying, ‘Lord, I just don’t care’

But you’ve got the love I need to see me through’

Please God, let it be that the Blessed Saints, most particularly Our Lady, continue to pray for us!

Fr. David