Levels of Involvement

Yesterday morning at our Men’s Shed I was talking to one gent whose colourful life includes business ventures, failed relationships, children who won’t talk to him… He went through a period of loneliness, mental ill-health… Coming to Men’s Shed enabled him to get involved with life and people again.

Later I went into a local hotel. Serving behind the bar was a nineteen-year-old young man. I know him quite well. There was a time when life wasn’t too good to him. He shut himself away in his room. He says his mum gave him a hard time – she probably did – but he’s now involved with life and people again – and good at his job.

Last night at The Seagull Theatre we enjoyed ‘Seekers and Dreamers’ – a selection of Christmas readings and carols. The audience were fully involved – clapping, singing, listening; those in the stage enjoyed a greater level of involvement – leading, reading, playing instruments…

We were reminded of the Christmas narrative… the human elements – birth, marriage, death… deeper themes of joy, peace and hope… supernatural aspects of angelic visitations and a pregnant virgin…

And somewhere in the mixture of snow, mangers, turkeys and goodwill to men there’s a God who gets involved – not as a detached but interested observer, nor even an active participative audience, but as a baby who becomes part of ordinary everyday life. Total commitment to humanity. Total involvement.