Way back, in 2009, when I was working out my notice at Dibley, and actively seeking to discern where God might lead me to serve, I would sometimes look out of my office window and say to God, half joking, half serious,'can't you just write it on a cloud?'  I would joke to friends about looking at fluffy cumulus clouds, trying to work out if they looked like Wales or Scotland - or a shoe (Northampton), or a sheep/ram (Derby) or, well, you get the drift.

Today's reading invites us to think about the fact that the early Celtic saints did expect God to speak to them through the natural world.  Not by cosmic sign-writing but through 'portents', signs and wonders.  What we would simply dismiss as a bad storm might be understood by them as a sign of God's displeasure, or as a warning from God of impending trouble.  God using the natural world to speak to us.

A post-Enlightenment, scientific worldview makes it very difficult to entertain the possiblity that God would really somehow speak to me through strange weather patterns, let alone inscribe meaningful words on the side a cloud.  But maybe God does allow nature to speak to us of the consequences of our (collective) choices - plastic choked oceans, rising sea levels, species extinction... each of them warnings that all is not well.

Sometimes, though, even though I don't expect it to happen, I do half wish God could just make the 'answer' crystal clear rather than expecting me to use my brain, intuition and judgement.

Today's prayer:

Creator God, who interacts with your creation, may I see your hand and presence within the natural world around me.  May I also be open to you using the natural world to speak to me, and to send warnings and words to me so that I can know your guidance. Amen.

On Remembrance Sunday, I spoke about the station buffet at Preston station - and today, as I sat there between trains, I snapped a couple of photos.  Above one of the brass plaques, and below one of the newer illustrations...

Today I have chosen a photo taken at Glasgow Central Station at around 6 a.m. today!  The nativity scene is flanked on each side by Father Christmas and his reindeer.

The juxtaposition of images, and the humour of reindeer chasing the camels, captures exactly the strange mix of the season.

I also saw this decorated pillar box outside Glasgow Queen Street station when I was en route to Central (as you do!)

As I dropped in a couple of letters the pillar box it played a short tune - and made me chuckle as I walked between stations. A bit of fun and mischief - why not?!

Posting late in the day because I've been our since 5 a.m. and am just in now!

Today we meet St Beuno who certainly had some strange dreams! However, the key message seems to be about being ready to meet our maker - and how life now should reflect that.  To pit it bluntly, how does my life reflect my readiness to meet God, either because Christ returns or because I die. That can all sound pretty scary or fatalistic, but actually, as I was taught in my teens, it shouldn't be, it's simply a reminder to be the person God calls me to be.

The prayer:

Loving Bridegroom, you call me to be ready.  I prepare myself for the invitation to the wedding feast by the life I live, bu following your commands both in scripture and in my own heart.  Help me to be ready. Amen.

Yesterday and today have been very 'clerical'.  For various, important and urgent reasons, the day off didn't really happen, so I've opted to post a 'dog collar' photo, reflecting the fact that today I've been wearing a clerical shirt.

Then there's also this photo, which is my 'treat' to myself to compensate for not getting a 'proper' day off...

How I might connect this to Advent probably needs some creativity. Maybe something about the unexpected or unplanned, and of the need to take a moment here or there to be kind to ourselves rather than simply pressing on in the cold, dark December night.  The work today was full of privilege.  And the oven chips were very tasty!