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From Reverend Sharon Grenham-Thompson, Anglican Priest and Prison Chaplain:

Back in July I pulled a muscle in my arm, shutting the car boot of all things, and over the course of the Autumn this relatively minor injury has turned into something much more debilitating. I鈥檝e been diagnosed with a frozen shoulder. I can tell you, it鈥檚 been agony! And on top of the pain, because of the stiffness and immobility, I鈥檓 not able to use my right arm for the most ordinary things - hanging out the washing, reaching into a cupboard, brushing my hair. So this coming Friday I鈥檓 going into hospital for a procedure to try to sort it out.

I鈥檓 really nervous! I鈥檝e hesitated about going ahead, because I think it鈥檚 going to hurt - the doc is going to inject salt water and cortisone into my shoulder joint to try to blow it up like a balloon and break the scar tissue that鈥檚 formed. I know I鈥檓 also facing a lot of physio afterwards, which I鈥檝e been warned will be painful as well. It鈥檚 as if I鈥檓 stuck between two sources of pain, and I have to choose which one I鈥檓 going to go with. But what made up my mind was the thought of regaining the full use of my arm.

Sometimes, taking a step into the future can seem like a real gamble, and we find ourselves hesitating on the edge of a decision. This holds true whether it鈥檚 something personal, like a medical procedure, or something global like the current international discussions to tackle climate change. My gran used to call it 鈥榮tuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.鈥� Whatever it is we鈥檙e facing, the choice often comes down to whether we live with the discomfort we know, or risk the pain that progress might bring.

We鈥檝e just started the season of Advent, and whether we鈥檙e religious or not, I think there鈥檚 a lot to be gained by using this time of preparation to stop and contemplate what鈥檚 at the heart of Christmas for us. Not just the jollity, with all its noise and sparkle, but the deeper hopes we all have. Christians believe there鈥檚 something else waiting for us: the offer of a new beginning, embodied and symbolised in the birth of Christ.

Much like giving birth, new starts are hard work, often painful - but, like my forthcoming operation, it鈥檚 the promise of the end result that makes it bearable.

听