Today we meet an obscure Welsh saint called Dwynwen ansd the strange story of her and Maelon who feel madly in love but, because she had commited herself totally to God, she spurned his affections. It's a stange story, more folk tale than legend, more fantasy than myth.

The point we are to ponder is what we understand by the term 'love' what does it mean? This is a question I have spoken on at numeorus weddings over the years, and know it has precious little to do with physcial attraction and a lot to do with tenacious determination.

Not much to say today!

The prayer:

God of love, God who is love, may I abide in the whole spectrum of love so that you would abide in me, and so that love would abide in me. Amen

Today I was up in Larbert at the BB residential centre along with a number if other folk for a training day.

As we walke din this morningk we were greated by this jolly festive scene, and a real log burnign stove.  It appealed to my sense of the ridiculous to have a BB badge above the mantlepiece, and stockings and yuletide greens on and under it.

Advent is a mish-mash of things Christians and things Christians stole from other other indigenous religious practices. It seems to me that is all part of the wonder of this season

From David Kerrigan's book, The Prince of Peace in a World of Wars, page 25, reflecting on Isaiah 11 ...

"Every element of this narrative - every man, woman and child who ever lived; every plant and animal; every atom in existence - came into being through Jesus (John 1:3) and everything has been reconciled in Jesus (Colossians 1:20) and one day that reconciliation will be actualised in a new earth and a new heaven (Revelation 2:1). This is the broad sweep of scripture, and Jesus is at its heart."

Yes, and Amen!

Half way through!

Today's topic is that of 'mystery.' I don't think there's much I can say about mystery that I haven't said umpteen times before - it's not a shoulder-shrugging not knowing, rather it is a beyond words knowing; it's not a get out  when I don't understand, rather it is beyond articulation comprehension.

So a short post today!

And here's the prayer from the book:

Mysterious, unfathomable God, may I live in the awareenss of your presence every day.  As I go about my every day, may I know the presence of Christ in me, my hope of glory. Amen.

St Patrick's breasplate. I recall learning this when in my teens.  I loved it then.  I love it now.

The idea of binding to (or around) oneself the name of the Trinity, which is strong, faith in Christ, which is powerful, and so on, is an incredible image.

It's tricky to find contemporary imagery that captures the essence of the breastplate - somehow a stab vest or bullet proof vest, which would be a literal equivalent, doesn't really help me much.  Even binding, for some, has very negative connotations.  However, the idea of binding as a protective covering - whether it's a bandage on an injury or a cover on a book - is actually a very positive image.

To wrap myself around in a cocoon of God's grace, mercy and love - that seems a good idea, a positive image on a world of fear and danger.  Perhaps it's like swaddling a baby, of wrapping up warm on a cold winter's day - both of which are quite appropriate images at this time of year.

Today the books offers us, for prayer, an extract from St Patrick's breastplate:

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the three-in-one and one-in-three.

I bind this day to me forever, by power of faith Christ's incarnation, his baptism in the Jordan river, his death on cross for my salvation; his bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way, his coming at the day of doom, I bind unto myself today.

After a bit of hunting, I