by the Rev Dr Tracey Raistrick, assistant curate in the parish of Keighley

I WONDER how many of us have played games of one sort or another over the Christmas/New Year period – board games or quizzes, games with balloons or maybe something more cerebral, such as chess, a crossword or a game of sudoku?

My younger grandsons think peek-a-boo is the very best game of all. Nothing cheers them up more than hiding behind their hands or a blanket, full of anticipation, and then beaming with delight when they peep out at us with huge smiles and to sounds of great cheers – "Here I am; I see you!"

As I’ve listened again this year to the Bible readings that tell us of the birth of Jesus, I’ve been struck by a certain parallel; that God seems to hide in broad daylight – visible yet hidden, awaiting the moment where we suddenly realise that he is here among us, nearer than we might have hoped or imagined. "Surprise!" comes the message – to Mary and Joseph, to shepherds and to wise men – "here I am; I see you."

Dazzled by the glitter and noise of Christmas and by the haze of hopes and fears of a new year, God can seem really distant from us: hidden by a blanket of activity or by our own hands as we try to hide ourselves from God’s loving gaze.

Jesus said that all of heaven holds a party every time we turn around and go looking for God. He promised that all those who seek him would find him. Whatever our spiritual practice has been up to now, let’s take God’s encouragement to take the next step towards him; by making room for moments of stillness and attentive silence each day and by being open and alert to the ways that God might want to surprise us with his presence – even in our everyday lives.

Let’s seek him today as we do the school run, among our workmates and family, and in all sorts of ordinary places – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Who knows where God will surprise us with his "Here I am! I see you"?

A Happy and Blessed New Year to you All.