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Excessive displays of adoration are always embarrassing for those watching on. It’s hard not to make a joke about it, or whisper some catty remark, or groan grumpily. After all, who wants to watch this emotional incontinence?

In a few months there will be opportunities to meet with groups of people again. In restaurants, coffee shops or in our homes. I’ve missed that so much.

But it’s coming, so it’s time to prepare ourselves. After a year of distance, we need to be ready to receive one another again.

It’s time to think about who you will want to invite.

A good ending is important.

Do ever turn to the end of a book to see how it ends so you can relax into the story? Or is that just me?

Do you ever to the end of a film and ask ‘is that it?’, feeling somehow cheated at the loose ends that haven’t been tied, or worse, with a feeling that the actors and directors got bored and just stopped!

You may be in the storm. But you know the God who is bigger than the storms. The storm may go on much longer than you would wish. But you are there for a purpose.

It takes courage to speak when you know that your views will be at odds with the prevailing culture. It’s hard to put your head above the parapet. I think it might become more normal for us to be shamed publicly for the views we hold. We might need to be ready to be unpopular.

This year we are going to need the strength that God can give to live well. That won’t happen just by hoping. I’m going to need to keep doing the things that I know will make the difference. And I need to start now.