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Good Morning. Last week the preacher leading the service in my local Methodist Church made a startling confession. ‘I hate the run up to Christmas,’ she said. For her, as it is for many, the preparation for Christmas is a whirlwind of busyness.

There are Christmas gifts to buy, scores of Christmas cards to write, Christmas parcels to be posted, Christmas decorations to put up, a Christmas tree to secure and to dress. Then there is Christmas dinner to prepare, holiday visits to organise, and Carol services and Christmas parties to attend.

By the time she gets to Christmas she is exhausted and less than convinced that it has been worthwhile.Ìý Her challenge to us this year is to do less, to move slowly, to contemplate the important, to have a horizon that is further away than the next fortnight.

Some will surely say, ‘Slow down? Contemplate? At Christmas? Chance would be a fine thing. Where would you find the time?Ìý

It is at our times of greatest busyness that we are in greatest need of learning how to move slowly. One of my favourite prayers begins with the line, ‘God of snails and tortoises, and of those things that move slowly in the world…’

It is when we are busy that we are in most need of a reminder that fulfilment is not to be found in frenetic activity. Rather it is only when we take time to move slowly, to savour God’s good creation, to create space for reflection, refreshment and joy that fulfilment may be found.

Unhurried God,
teach me the art of moving slowly;
free me from my guilt when my tasks are incomplete;
and renew in me the joy of your salvation.ÌýAmen

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