Reepham Benefice

Slade’s famous Christmas song is arguably one of the nation’s favourite at this time of year, and we could be forgiven for thinking, what on earth has this got to do with the birth of the Christ child? If you watch the video that accompanies this song, you will see a group of long haired pop stars from the 1970’s jumping around on stage whilst artificial snow is poured onto them and the audience. Those of us who remember life in the 1970’s will , no doubt remember a seemingly less stressful life than in the 21st century, but one which behind freedom that that decade seems to be synonymous with, had its difficulties as well. One of my happiest memories of growing up in the 1970’s was eating fish and chips with my mother by candlelight, the electricity workers were on a three day week, and we had to endure many power cuts. I am sure this was no fun for many people but for a small boy it was wonderful ! Bread strikes,  power cuts, short working weeks, and no where near the level of affluence we now seem to enjoy marked the decade that produced the greatest Christmas pop song of all time.....there was a sense of no matter what happened, we would all pull together and enjoy, enjoy this day at least.

In many ways life has remained unchanged. The word’s “everybody’s having fun” , couldn’t be further from the truth for many people. The homeless, the sick and recently bereaved, those who just can’t get on with other family members don’t have the fun that Noddy Holder speaks of, they often dread this time of year. But the words continue, “look to the future, now, its only just begun”, and these words sum up more fully what it is all about. For in looking back to the birth of Jesus, we glimpse something of the future, in all that Christmas is about we see a glimpse of how life not only should be but can be. The only thing standing between what it might be and what it can be is ourselves.

So may you all have a merry, happy, joyful and peaceful Christmas, who ever you are, wherever you are, and after the celebrations are over take something of that joy out into the future.