Explorers

Francis Bacon said: They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.

This Christmas, James gave me a compass and a St Christopher's medal.

Today's scripture reading is from the gospel according to Matthew 2:13 - 23: Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."

Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead."

Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

It would seem that the theme this week, ending one year and beginning another, is journey. Joseph had angels in dreams, leading him, providing guidance. Francis Bacon had faith, even when he could not see anything other than water. Joseph and Mary had faith, living as refugees in a foreign country.

Two key elements on a journey - faith and guidance. My compass represents a guiding element - God's guidance, found in God's word. Reading the Bible daily is the way to write scripture on your heart, so that when you aren't sure of what to say, which action to take, which direction to go, you have God's word inside you, like a compass showing you the right direction. The St Christopher's medal is a symbol of faith. Christopher means "Christ bearer" and Christopher helped travellers across a river, one of them a child who grew heavier as they went across, representing the weight of the world which Christ carries.

With faith and guidance, the challenges on my journey should be easier to face. I am so grateful for James, who understands and supports me along this journey of life. I pray that you have faith in the coming year, and that you find your guidance in God, your compass through life.