Glad Tidings? A Pub Conversation

[The cover photo is actually from a holiday let advertisement in Pattaya, but is similar to the photo Dave showed me, taken from the window of his friend’s apartment]

“He’s 58 years old,” explained Dave, “an’ he’s got it made! It’s costing him £200 a month for his apartment – they’re dirt cheap, y’know, in Thailand – then he rents out his own house in Yorkshire for £500 a month. That gives him £300 to spend, an’ it costs next to nothing to live out there.”

On his phone, Dave showed the view from his lucky friend’s apartment, seemingly in a high rise block. It looked just like the view from one of those glossy travel brochures, with a swimming pool below, a beautiful sandy beach, greenery everywhere.

We were sitting comfortably at the bar of our traditional local, the ceiling bedecked with tinsel, streamers and other reminders that Christmas is here. Dave’s already contemplating next year, savouring his holiday in Thailand. Unfortunately for him, retirement isn’t yet on the horizon. He’s a driver on Northern Trains, which means he works shifts. Every year, there is more pressure to ‘modernise’ working practices so the company gets more for less. The bosses don’t help, but ultimately our transport companies are victims of the never-ending squeeze on public finances. Dave used to feel loyal towards his employers, but nowadays feels more and more hard done by. Can anyone blame him for making choices that seem to suit him?

Dave would love to follow his friend’s example, to ‘up sticks’ and move to Thailand. He says, “it’s my life; you only get one chance; might as well make the most of it.” It seems to make perfect sense to get away from bad-news, broken Britain. And in between sips of beer, I asked myself why I am not considering making a similar choice.

It comes down to your worldview.

-o-O-o-

I don’t think there’s anything ‘wrong’ with going to live in Thailand, not per se. But I have a different starting point, based on our Christian hope. That’s why, yesterday (Sunday), Jane and I helped provide the music at two wonderful Carol Services. The afternoon Christingle service featured a toddlers’ nativity play. [2-year-old Joseph kept leaving Mary and wandering offstage. He had to be escorted back…]. The evening ‘Pensioners’ Nativity’ featured a whole cast of costumed oldies. It was created after, last year, a retired vicar read a brilliant monologue that she’d composed. Here’s the gist:- if we give our dreams to him, God loves to give us what our hearts desire, even in old age.

Yes, I live my life, but I don’t ‘own’ it; I belong to Jesus Christ. He calls me not to escape weary Britain but to be part of the process of remaking it. The national news may be awful, but Jesus’ birth  brings Good news. What aspects of this might tempt Dave to look at things differently? I can suggest 7 things.

• Jesus is the best role model he could wish for. I’m immensely proud to be his follower.
• Jesus made it possible for Dave to have a relationship with God. He did this by dying on the cross to deal with Dave’s selfishness that blocks God out, just as he died for me.
• Jesus offers to take away all the shame of Dave’s past misdeeds. I know; now I feel clean inside.
• He’s a constant, faithful friend to whom Dave could talk every day. God would become a father to him. He’d feel secure and valued. He’d find a whole new set of caring friends, ones he can trust.
• Jesus offers Dave a sense of purpose, and would love to use – and develop – his gifts.
• Jesus wants to live his life through Dave’s! I can best explain it by saying Jesus seems to have got right inside me. Sometimes I get to do something very special like he would have done, like pray effectively for someone’s healing.
• Jesus offers Dave life beyond the grave. Not a mere existence, but a life where evil and sadness are no more, lived to please God, building a new world out of the old.

So, Dave, how about it? Why wouldn’t you want to receive this Good News? Look into it! No, it isn’t wishful thinking; it is credible, and I’m happy to explain why.

-o-O-o-

To everybody, Daves and non-Daves, let me take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas. Thank you for following my blog posts and to those who Comment on and ‘Like’ my articles. May the Good News burst in on your life in a special way throughout this festive season.

God bless you merry Gentlemen…and Gentlewomen!

John