Another Way

It's been snowing!
In the North East we've had a very white Christmas and New Year. Children (and adults) have been enjoying snowballs and sledges. And in one of the local churches they built snowmen but not as you know them...I am told that a life-size nativity with baby animals and wise men appeared at Elm Ridge Church in Darlington on Christmas Eve.
For those making journeys the snow has made travel interesting. Today I went to Hawes, at the 'top' of Wensleydale. A place famous for that cheese loved by Wallace (it's very good - you should visit Hawes and try some genuine Wensleydale cheese).
My journey was interesting as I took the high road to go from Swaledale across to Wensleydale. The scenery was breath-takingly beautiful, the sun was shining on the snow and the road was treacherous in places - not too dangerous but still exciting. I returned another way.
As I drove home I remembered those visitors from the East who came to visit the child and returned another way. Their lives had been changed, transformed by the journey they had made. They could not just go back to their accustomed ways, their old traditions. They were challenged by their encounter with Jesus. They had seen Emmanuel (God with us) and nothing could be the same again.
Have you been challenged by your encounter with Jesus?
Are you taking another way?

Rev'd Ruth Gee