stilettos in the snow

Our nine year old appeared with a stepping stone kit which we had never made, earlier this evening so we now have several cement shapes drying, encrusted with various tiles and glass beads.

The stepping stones reminded me of other sets of steps which I pondered on during the recent snow storms. It always fascinates me to look at the footprints which have gone ahead of me - to look at the sizes and shapes - and sometimes to be amazed when the imprints are obviously stilettos - I could never manage that!

All those people with all those footprints - almost like a whisper that they were there ahead of me. Going into Church sometimes had that same feeling - all those people who have left footprints, whispers of their faith from so many years before.

We often wonder that our world is so radically different to ages past - and in many ways it is but I find it a profound source of reassurance that there are so many footsteps ahead of me in this Christian journey. That there are so many people who have turned their lives to Christ and dealt with all those ordinary human things - the joys and sorrows - in that light.

Our computers and televisions may be new but our humanity is not - God calls us just the same as God always has, and loves us with that same intensity. Just imagine, in an old Church building, Christians have been proclaiming God's love for a thousand years or more and God has been loving each and every one of them.

That is nothing like walking on stilettos in the snow!