Ever since Hurricane Fabian in September I have been trying to "Catch up". I have been writing and living numerous "TO DO" lists.

There always seems so much to do. Sometimes the lists feel endless. In fact even my prayers have been affected by all my lists, as I try to catch up to with what I need to do and to where I think I need to be.

But I have now realised that it wasn't so much that I had to 'catch up' as that I had to allow myself to be caught - to be caught up by God. Instead of trying to do too much and only achieving a little, I needed to stop and to listen. To listen to my family, my friends and to our God.

One morning kneeling before our lovely Ethiopian Icon of the Holy family in the beautiful side chapel here at St. Mary's Church in Warwick, I suddenly realised that all my "to do" lists were actually distracting me from doing and being all that I really needed to do and to be. They were distracting me from seeing the God right in front of me and all around me.

The God lying in the manger of Bethlehem. I suddenly realised that what I had to do, was to allow God to catch me and to hold me. The Biblical story of Christmas is all about a God who constantly tries to get our attention and constantly tries to get us to understand how much he loves us.

He comes to us in unexpected moments and times, trying to get our attention, to connect with us and to get us to allow him to enfold us his love and blessings.

As the shepherds and the Magi know, God finds us in our work, in our life's journeys, in our play, in our busyness and stress. Only one thing is necessary. To take time to look, really look at the blessings around you, and then to let God catch you.

This Christmas, look ? really look ? at the child in the manger. Emmanuel ? God with us. God with us here and now, in all the difficulties and questions of life ? in its complications & its lists, ? in its sufferings and joys.

Let God catch you this Christmas. He will enfold you in his love and forgiveness. And you will feel His blessing, his healing and his love.

The people of St. Mary's, Warwick and every member of the Anglican Church of Bermuda join me in wishing you and your family a very happy and prayerful Christmas 2003.

With love and prayers,

By Fr. Andrew W. Doughty

Rector of St. Mary the Virgin, Warwick.