In 1996, through Durham Diocese, a collection of my writings was placed on the internet under the title: "The Word of the Lord" (this website).
Over the succeeding years this site has been visited by many interested callers.
Now, at the end of my career I would like to record some thoughts that many people, lay or clergy, might find helpful in reflecting upon the contents of the following incident:-
About 25 years ago, while lecturing in a Teacher Training College in Durham, I was asked by one of my students if I would manage to visit her school to see her perform an unscripted Nativity Play. I would have liked nothing better, but I was prevented from attending on that occasion.
On the afternoon in question at the end of school time I heard a knock on my door and my student rushed into my room. "You've missed a real treat!" she exclaimed. As so often happens with Nativity Plays, this play concluded with the visit of the "The Three Wise Men". She then proceeded to regale me with an account of the last scene in which "Mary" and "Joseph" sat on either side of the cradle in which "Jesus" lay.
Suddenly off-stage came 3 loud knocks, whereupon Mary turned to Joseph with the words, "Turn the telly down Joseph, we've got visitors"!
That was as far as my student could go, (quite understandably!), but not for me. It was not simply a delightful experience, but those words are very precious to me and I shall never forget them and their serious significance.
I ask you now to remember them, to reflect upon them in the years to come, to find, as I have done over the years, the significance and wonder of what they mean in a Christian and spiritual context when we think of the Incarnation of Christ among us, to be our Companion through life, (or view the picture by Holman Hunt - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock"). This is but one of many references in the Old and New Testaments to the visitation of angels, men and women, old and young, who have responded to the call of "Follow me" and discovered the truth of the promise "Behold, I will be with you to the end", as they accept the call of Immanuel - "God with us".
Eric Little,
Christmas 2003.