WE have firmly entered what I like to call the silly season.

As Christians, we enter the season of Advent at the end of November, which is a time of expectation.

It is a season full of expectation, as we await the coming of Jesus and celebrate His birth at Christmas.

We also await the second coming of Jesus, when He will bring in the peace, love, joy and hope that only He can bring.

This can all get lost in the busyness of this time of year, when we also remember those who have fallen in wars and given their lives so that we may be free.

Before we start Advent though, I look through a year that has been challenging for me and my family.

Getting a cancer diagnosis is never something you expect or want to hear from the doctor sitting across from you, but when it comes, you have to roll with the punches.

While being diagnosed with breast cancer and the treatment that followed has been tough at times, I can honestly say that God has been a true and dear friend, carrying me through what has been and continues to be an interesting journey.

What I have appreciated through my journey, is having wonderful friends and family around me, taking care of me in different ways.

As human beings, we need the companionship of other people. Human connection is important for our emotional and physical well being and without it, we are much poorer for it.

As we journey through the seasons of Remembrance, Advent and Christmas, may we seek to journey with others.

There are so many people who are lonely, sick, fearful and sad and they are in need of human connection. Are you in a position to walk alongside someone who needs help?

We live in a society where we are increasingly polarised and confused. With social media and artificial intelligence providing fake content, it is hard to know what is real and what is not.

The thing that is real, is human connection. This time of year can be very difficult for many people. With everything else that is going on around us, human connection is still the best way to help people.

It could be a phone call or a letter, or taking someone out for coffee, taking them a meal, inviting them to be part of something.

Let us try to be present in these last few weeks of the year. As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, let us be examples of God’s love to those around us.

Let us try to be less busy, so that we have time for those around us. It is not only them that benefits from the care, but we are transformed by showing care to others as well.

Rev Janet May

Team Vicar

North Creedy and Crediton Ministry Hub