Today's walk took me over the meandering River Kelvin near "where the BBC used to be".

Meander seems a good word for Advent - it is't a straight line, shortest possible route from A to B, but a road that twists and turns, and sometimes reveals unexpected delights.

We are blessed to have two rivers is this this city, one wide and slowly making its way to the sea, the other narrow, twisty and with the odd weir or dam, to say nothing of a canal.  It all makes for wonderful walks of very different character.

"Travelling mercies" (or 'journeying mercies') is a phrase that I used to hear a lot in Christian circles.  In some pentecostal circles such prayers are still often heard for visiting preachers, and also for those setting out on long distance travel - far less so if you are getting the bus to town!

Today's reflection was on a jorney by coracle of three Celtic monks from Ireland to what is now England, set alongisde the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.  I could not help but hear/read this in tension with the news of the young American missionary killed by the indigenous people of an island off the coast of India when he landed his canoe illegally on their shores.  Had he committed his travel plans to God?  Had people prayed journeying mercies for him? It is easy for me to read the news and see folly, even disrepsect, in his actions, but this was a young man convinced that he was doing that which God called him to do. 

Much pondering for me to do as these stories permeate my subconscious.

The prayer from the book:

Christ, when you were on earth, you walked many miles, travelling from town to town, walking in wildernesses and upon mountains. Wherever I journey today, Lord, may I be aware of your presence with me.  I place my travels into the divine hands and release them into the divine plan. Keep me safe, Lord, as I go from here to there, but above all, whateverhappebns, may I ever know you with me.  Amen.

If you don't know the 'baby shark' song then type it into your favourite search engine and watch a video.

I have felt for a while it is ripe for a cheesy Christian makeover, and with nativity play season upon us, here is my offering, with permitted variants!!...

Gabriel, doo, doo, doo, doo

Gabriel, doo, doo, doo, doo

Gabriel

Mary, 'yes', doo, doo, doo, doo...

Joseph, 'oh!' doo, doo, doo, doo...

Bethlehem, doo, doo, doo, doo...

Baby born, doo, doo, doo, doo...

Angels sing, doo, doo, doo, doo...

Shepherds come, doo, doo, doo, doo...

It's a star, doo, doo, doo, doo...

Magi's gifts doo, doo, doo, doo... (Or: Wise men's gifts, doo, doo, doo, doo...   or: Kings bring gifts, doo, doo, doo, doo...)

Christ is born! doo, doo, doo, doo... (Or: Christmas Day, doo, doo, doo, doo...)

And now you have have the perfect annoying earworm for the day ahead!!

Edit - shared this elsewhere and people are wanting to use it for Toddler Gruops and Messy Church! Someone asked me what the actions were, so here is what I made up as I typed...

Gabriel - flap wings maybe (even if angels strictly don't have wings)
Mary - if it must be hands, then maybe thumbs up, but nodding would seem better
Joseph - hand to mouth in astonishment
Bethlehem - walking/riding a donkey/make a house/stable shape
Baby - rocking baby style arms
Angels sing - jazz hands maybe, or more wings, or hands as an open hymnbook
Shepherds - run
Star - twinkle twinkle style
Magi - present gifts
Christ is born - more jazz hands or just clap

Feel free to share/use.  I'd be grateful if you credited me and didn't pass it off as your own.

So my little expermiment yesterday was interesting, attracting some response on two out three platforms I tried.  Many thanks to MC who contributed by comment on this blog.  And yes, the last line really was a comment offered in jest by one  contributor!

So here, combining them, is what we have...

As Mary sang her song of praise, so we now sing ours too,

Deep inside we reach to find the voice that's incarnated, love sublime,

And sing 'cause I'm grateful for love, for joy, for life!

To light, sound and story; to celebrate; to lament within the strife,

For breath and health in this life!

For you, oh Lord, are our rock, strength and shield.

You, Lord, are our safe place in the storm;

The answer to our questions, the directions in our decisiveness.

Sing praise to you, God, for your love and compassion,

And for your great faithfulness to us

Let our song unite with hers and all the faithful voices from the past.

(And a happy New Year)

Today we learn of St Cuthbert who entertained angels unawares, and are invited to consider our own angel encounters, in whatever form they take.

I was reminded that this time last year we were busy knitting a host of angels to distribute in the neighbourhood, and hearing each others stories of meeting angels - mostly in airports or hospitals!

Whether in dreams or in life, are we open to the surprise of meeting someone who, it turns out, is an angel?

The prayer:

Loving God, creator of angles, thanjk you that you desire to guide us and protect us through angelic encounters.  May we see more of them within our churches.  May we become aware of when you are speaking to us through such a way.  May we live a life believing that the supernatural is woven through the natuirual, and that we may see angels in our dialy life.  Amen.