Basis of Deferred Linkage for the Parishes of Kelso Old and Sprouston with Makerstoun

CHRISTMAS ON THE BUSES : Part 1

This is a tale of Christmas Eve in the bus depot.

I don’t know if you can see these, but tonight I’ve brought with me :

Dennis, Minnie [that’s Dennis’s wee sister] and Big Alex

It was a cold, frosty Christmas Eve, and the buses were expecting a very busy day indeed as all they made sure all their passengers made it into town to do their last-minute Christmas shopping, and then took them safely to their families in good time for Santa … and Christmas dinner of course!

Hector the Inspector came in and gave the buses their duties for the day.

“Dennis, you’re going to the Big City”. Dennis was well excited because he didn’t often get that run, but just as he was imagining the bright lights in the city centre, and the market, and the funfair, and all the people, he heard a noise that meant trouble. It was Big Alex clearing his exhaust pipe.

“Em, Mr Hector, sir”. Dennis didn’t like the sound of that. Whenever big Alex was nice to Hector, it meant he was looking for a favour, and so it proved.

“As you know, Mr Hector, I used to work in the Big City”. At this, Dennis and Minnie let out a tiny groan. If they’d heard Big Alex’s tales of the city once, they’d heard them a million times.

“But ever since I’ve been sent to this garage, I never seem to go anywhere but the school run. Every morning, every afternoon, school, school, school. But there’s no school today, Mr Hector, so I’m free. And – no offence, Dennis”

Dennis knew he wouldn’t enjoy hearing this.

“But, Mr Hector, Dennis is just too small for the city today. If you send Dennis, lots of passengers will have to stand with their parcels between their toes and they won’t like it. In future … they might go … BY CAR!!!”

Mr Hector thought for a moment before agreeing : “OK, Alex, the city for you. Dennis, sorry, but you’ll be on the local run today”

Big Alex puffed out his radiator grille with pride. Dennis was disappointed, but he didn’t let it show. He was a good honest bus who did his job well.

“Minnie”, said Mr Hector. “You’re on standby. I’ve a feeling I’ll need you later”. That was a strange one. Standby? On Christmas Eve? Minnie was puzzled, but said nothing. Hector was usually on the ball, so, hey, why worry?

Big Alex went down to the bus station to pick up his passengers. Most of his 81 seats were full as he set off to the Big City. They were all in fine fettle and looking forward to Christmas Day.

The journey went smoothly until Big Alex got to the outskirts of the city. That’s when he found things had changed since he’d been away. They’d built a new road system, but Alex followed the old road it had aye been.

And that’s when Big Alex suddenly had a thought – “Oh! That’s a new railway bridge. I don’t remember …” CRRRRRR! Expensive tinkling noises.

Big Alex had made a mistake. He had stuck to the way he’d always known, the way it had aye been, he’d missed the signs pointing him the right road, and now he was stuck firm under a railway bridge he didn’t know was there.

He couldn’t budge an inch, fore nor aft, and he felt very silly. The single-deck buses laughed as they passed Big Alex stuck there, but what about all his passengers? There was only one thing to do.

Big Alex’s driver got on the phone to the depot. Hector the Inspector quickly sent Minnie out on the local run and despatched Dennis to the Big City … followed by a breakdown truck with a very big tin-opener.

Minnie was happy on the local run, helping all the mums home with their turkeys and Christmas puddings for the Big Day.

Dennis was delighted with a trip to the Big City, and he had a quiet giggle as he heard the passengers joke about how silly Big Alex had been.

And Big Alex himself? Well, he sighed, as he got towed home red-faced and rather battered behind the breakdown truck, there’s always jobs for an open- top double-decker in the summer. CHRISTMAS ON THE BUSES : Part 2

And for those of you who thought I’d completely flipped by giving a talk about buses and forgetting a talk about Jesus … and for those of you who maybe hoped that’s what had happened …!!!

You don’t get off that lightly, even on Christmas Eve! So sit back and enjoy the expert analysis, as they say on Sky Sports!

Big Alex thought he knew it all. He thought he was bigger and better than the other buses. He thought he knew the way, the way it had aye been. He didn’t need to pay attention to the signs pointing to a new way.

And so Big Alex got stuck, and missed it, big time.

A bit like so many people when Jesus came along.

King Herod liked all his wealth and his titles, the way it had aye been.

The scribes and Pharisees liked to dress up, play at being religious, and feel important, the way it had aye been.

The ordinary people liked to give God his wee slot on the Sabbath and put a few coins in the plate in the hope of buying his favour, whilst acting the rest of the time as if there was no God, the way it had aye been.

Then Jesus came along, born in a stable, working in a joiner’s yard, telling a different story of God’s unconditional love for us all, healing the sick, saving the lost, making friends with the losers, delivering the demented, raising the dead – just the way God’s Word, the Bible, had always promised.

And, apart from a handful of close friends, people didn’t like what Jesus said and did. It was different. It was uncomfortable. Jesus rocked the boat, so they didn’t want to know. They went the wrong way, they got stuck, they missed it.

That was them, back then. What about you, right now? What do you think of this Jesus whose birthday party you’re about to enjoy? Have you the courage to let the real Jesus into your life, knowing it will mean big changes?

Jesus said that he came so that you may enjoy your life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows. That’s a Christmas gift worth having, and it’s there for free, if you just welcome Jesus into your life.

Don’t be like Big Alex – so full of aye been that you miss the sign point to eternal life in all its glorious fullness. Don’t get stuck and miss it.