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Good morning. Today is Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday so we offer our best wishes for her health and happiness. As many will know, the Queen also has an official birthday in the second week in June, which provides an opportunity for more public celebrations and the awarding of honours. It’s a tradition which goes back in time to her ancestor George II and it’s for good practical reasons; namely if you’re planning some outdoor celebrations, particularly in London, then it’s better to do it in summer when the weather is a little more reliable.
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Now in our own (and much less significant) way, the Wigley family have also made special birthday arrangements. Our twins were born on 24th December, and given that both parents are Christian ministers, the chance of either of us being free for a birthday party on Christmas Eve has always been pretty slim. So, from an early stage we adopted the practice of a ‘half-year’ birthday in the middle of June – a much easier time to arrange invitations and parties – and over the years this arrangement has worked out pretty well.
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In today’s pressurised age it’s not always easy to make space in busy schedules; but then I’m reminded of how Jesus, even in the most hectic periods of his life, somehow found time to meet with individuals, whether a woman in a crowd or a beggar by a roadside, and how often such encounters changed lives. In different settings, I too have learnt that it’s important to make time for such moments, so that if you can’t be there on the dates in the calendar, you can at least make time in the diary for the people and events which matter.
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Heavenly Father, In Jesus you entered our world to make space and time for us; help us in our dealings with each other to make the most of the precious opportunities we have to share together. For Christ’s sake, Amen.