On things unseen this week, we've been thinking a little about the challenge at Christmas

time, the challenge to keep Jesus himself at the heart of things.

And I know that kind of talk can sometimes devolve into a sense of duty responsibility

and perhaps even a burden.

This always struck me as a paradox that's difficult to get our heads round, that the

very season when the church celebrates the one whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light

is actually a season in which many Christians feel an excessive sense of burden.

Now no doubt, one of the reasons for that is the false expectations we're encouraged

to have.

Here's one example, although I hope I'm not going to spoil your Christmas Eve service

by mentioning it.

These services often begin with the words of Luke chapter 2 verse 15, usually in the

King James version.

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass which the

Lord has made no in unto us.

Have to confess, I've given up trying to get to Bethlehem and Christmas Eve, because

you can't get there.

I think I know what people are trying to say when they use this verse.

I wonder if the great hymn writer Horatius Barnard had the same experience.

He wrote a little hymn about looking for Christ in which he says, we went to Bethlehem,

but Christ wasn't there.

That is to say, I can't generate this new affection I need by making an imaginary geographical

...