Today's reading focuses on resurrection from the dead, and uses the example of a Celtic saint praying for a young man to be restored to life from death, something that evidently happened after a couple of hours.

From time to time, I hear of people rising form the death in African and Asian countries, usally not accompanied my medical verification.  Occasionally, I hear of someone who has been medically certified as dead waking up in a mortuary or funeral director's premises, though usually they die (again) soon afterwards. Earlier this year I heard of a church in the UK praying for a much loved member to be raised from death - and their struggle when the answer was self evidently 'no'. And all that before we start contemplating CPR, it's efficacy and justification. It feels as if we are in danger of opening an enormous can of worms.

So I go back to a sermon I preached about three years ago (it has to have been that long, because it was when we were still in our own premises) and the fact that resurrection is a translation of anastasis, 'getting up'.  I spoke of 'little resurrections' and used the chorus of the Chumba Wumba song 'Tub Thumping' as a sort of antiphon: 'I get knocked down but I get up again, ain't nothing gonna keep me done." Or, in the words of another song, 'pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again'.

Whether any of this connects with what I was meant to be pondering, who knows, but here is the prayer from the book:

Risen Christ, living within me, may I know the power of your life moving through me.  May the resurrection power, which raised you from the dead, raise me from the death which can so often overtake my soul.  Not only this, but may I know that power living. Amen. 

The post arrived whilst I was busily typing up my assorted bloggages. 

I opened a white envelope to find this little tag, and a letter from the FD who conducted Mum's funeral - an invitation to remember her name on their Christmas tree.  It's a thing lots of FDs do, some making quite a song and dance of it, and its something I know is valuable. I appreciate this simple approach, a message, an offer to pop in to hang your tag and have a cuppa as you remember.  And done with no pressure, affirming that what's right for you is right for you. I like that, too.

So I wrote a brief message - Mum hated mushy slushy and I can't do it anyway - and will post it back to them to hang on their tree.  I think she'd have liked that.

Anyone who knows me will also know that one of the people I admire most in the whole world is David Kerrigan.

This year, he has written the BRF Advent book which it comes highly recommended, and rightly so.

I have just read the first day, and I am hooked!  There is still time to buy this book in hard copy or electronically and find a real blessing in an accessible, honest, common sense, theologically sound, companion for the Advent journey.

Back in 2010, whilst undergoing cancer treatment, I was terrified.  David prayed for me, a woman he then knew only 'online' in a church in Bethlehem whilst he was on a BMS trip.  I have never forgotten that gift of grace, the hope it brought and the fresh possibility of peace beyond understanding.  David tells me off when I say he is wise and wonderful, because his wisdom and humility mean he knows fine well he has clay feet.  But that's the point, isn't it - we are frail and finite humans, searching for truth, hope, love and peace.  And David is someone I want to travel alongisde.

Oo-er- missus! Today we learn about naughty nuns who lived 'fleshy' lives luring men to their cells.  Who'd have thought it.  Made me chuckle as tomorrow I'm preaching on Rahab and Ruth, so there's a connection of sorts to be found there.

More seriously, the thought for today is about the transformative effect of the indwelling of Christ, that means we are not driven by fleshy desires (which doesn't mean sexual desire is bad or wrong, rather it's about enjoying a gift of God appropriately).

Whether it's sex, exercise, work, food, drink, power, status, acceptance or anything else we can think of, normal human desires have the potential to become unhealthy drivers/motivators.  We all know that.  But maybe the tale of some naughty nuns gives us just enough pause to think about our own potential stumbling blocks.

The prayer from the book:

Holy God, make me holy.  May my flesh-lift melt away.  May Christ in me lead me into righteous  living.  Amen.

I oculd have used a stock photo yesterday, but I waited until the delivery a 8 a.m. of my shiny new steam cleaning thing. Well, that's my excuse ofr being late.... again!

What has this to do with Advent?

Traditionally it's a fasting season, a season of spirutal, if not literal deep cleaning.  And my shiny new "early birthday-and-Christmas-combined gift to self" seesm to connect with that.  A new 'year', a 'fresh' or 'clean' start - at least once I've managed to decipher the instructions for the various settings that need to be adjusted before I begin using it.

And maybe Advent's a bit like that too - hard to decipher, hard to make snese of, but, once we've finally got into it, worth while.

Liturgical Advent starts tomorrow, and advent calendar Advent starts today.  Each of these, another opportunity for a new start, a fresh beginning.

I must be getting very middle aged to delight in a steam cleaner as a 'gift' - but it is very shiny and bright!