Hollowell: 3[rd] Sunday before Advent: 8[th] November 2010

O Lord God, when Thou givest to Thy servants to endeavour any great matter, grant us also to know that it is not the beginning, but the continuing of the same unto the end, until it be thoroughly finished, which yieldeth the true glory."
May, 1587.
I was talking the other day to a young man with a troubled history who put to me the very direct question that all of us have probably asked from time to time  " What's it all for  -  life I mean ? " 
To those if us who are Christians, the answer lies in our faith that what we do here on earth will bring us to eternal life in Heaven.   
I found it hard to come up with any response to the young man's question other than that every man and woman needs something to believe in.  I believed in the teaching of Jesus Christ and recommended a bit of Bible study.  I pointed out that we all need a spiritual dimension to our lives:  the man running the corner shop wearing a turban believes in something and shows it.   The woman who wears Muslim dress shows it;  so does the Jew with his skullcap or yarmuike.  The hoodie with the Union Jack Tattoo stands for something, even if it is misguided nationalism.   But Christians tend not to show their faith in outward form.  
BA banned their staff from wearing a crucifix not so long ago; 

