Well at the moment, 'Right here, right now' as says Maggi Dawn, is for me propped up on the sofa with the laptop on my knee. Yet, as I absorbed today's reading, I was transported into two very different but essential aspects of my life. Bits of me, so to speak, who help make me who I am.
One of the areas is a strong confident young (well ok youngish, give me that at least) woman and the other a human soul, who is more led by her feelings than her intellect. The confident bit of me is the Solicitor, who is used to arguing her corner and more essentially those of others, be it when I'm on my feet in court or as when I'm preparing a case. The words of Luke speak to me as I value, how important it is to have facts and research behind you, if you're hoping to be able to convince anyone of anything. If only a winning smile would always work.
"I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you... so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed"
My mind is analytical. I always need to see both sides of the argument, which can drive my husband to the brink of despair, when he's wanting me to say that he's right about something and someone else is wrong. I love the way that Luke, seems to have taken on the role of Police Officer delving for facts, speaking to witnesses and putting all that he discovers into it's social and historical context, before he even considers passing on to us, his audience, what he has learnt about Jesus, the life of Jesus and the whole concept of faith. It is only then that he sets the scene,
"In the days of King Herod of Judea.."
and steps up to the courtroom lectern to present his version of events, his Gospel, his tale of Jesus. You may or may not have read all of Luke's gospel but certainly by this stage, I find that definitely ready to get stuck into it.
They say, that all lawyers are really suppressed actors, but for me it's not about any degree of flamboyance, or dramatics in the court room, (though I must admit that I am partial to bit of Silk or similar on the tv. Honestly, it's not like that in real life), it's about getting to the truth, finding out what really happened, telling the story from the victim and the offender's point of view and the court deciding, in essence, what they believe, once everything has been considered. If you want the proof, it's there. You just have to look for it.
So it is with Luke's Gospel that we are provided with scenario after scenario of people living their everyday lives. I'm sure that many of them didn't think that they were special, yet we read of how their lives were touched by Jesus and all the gifts that he promised. There was no guarantee that things would be easy for them and yes many of them suffered but the Good News gave them the hope that whatever their circumstances, whatever our circumstances, we will never be alone. Jesus will walk along side us.
As for the emotional side of me, well that's just a bit too much to share right now for a first blog
