Rev James Hanson, Vicar, Burpham Church

As the year draws to a close and Christmas approaches, Rev. James Hanson reflects on the journeys we take—both on foot and through life. From hiking in the Scottish Glens to retracing the Thames Path, he shows how moments of being “lost” can help us rediscover direction and faith. This season, he invites us to consider where our path leads—and who we might walk alongside as we enter Christmas anew.

It’s surprisingly easy to get lost while walking. One of my more memorable misadventures happened in Scotland earlier this year, hiking the Glens in search of a new mountain path. I was well-prepared – map, compass, phone, charger, water, snacks, sturdy shoes, sensible clothing – and aimed to reach the summit by lunchtime. About two hours in, I passed a sign: “This is the last of the markers on the way, are you prepared?” Confident, I pressed on. But shortly after, I missed a crucial turn and continued along a parallel road. Though heading in the right general direction, I gradually veered off course and reached a dead-end two hours later. I told myself: one dead-end is unlucky, two is risky, and three means it’s time to go home. Sure enough, the next route also ended abruptly. I abandoned the summit and returned safely. It was a great walk for fitness, but I never reached the destination.

This experience made me reflect on life’s journey. Don’t we all need way-markers? Without them, life can feel aimless, and we risk getting lost. When the path becomes unbearably hard, we need support, time to pause and regain strength, and a clear destination to guide us. Otherwise, we may find ourselves back where we started, wondering if we’ve moved at all.

Recently, while waiting for my daughter at the O2, I re-walked a section of the Thames Path – a nostalgic reminder of my 2018 pilgrimage from source to sea. I came across a sign I’d seen before: simply marked ‘Here’. Most signs guide us forward, but this one invites reflection. It reminds us how vast the world is, and that if we keep going without direction, we may end up back where we began. But is retracing our steps always a bad thing?

Christmas, for me, is the most cherished part of life’s journey – one I gladly revisit each year. It’s a season unlike any other, allowing us to re-enter the nativity story at any point. I wonder how Christmas feels for you. Do you journey with loved ones, or alone? Is it joyful or painful? I often imagine Mary and Joseph – likely teenagers – setting off from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Mary heavily pregnant, traveling roughly 90 miles through harsh terrain, possibly over a week with a donkey. They must have felt every emotion: anxiety, exhaustion, uncertainty. Yet they had purpose. Even without way-markers, they knew where they were meant to go. And they arrived – at an outdoor shelter – where Jesus was born. The extraordinary emerged from the ordinary.

So, where is your journey taking you this Christmas? Who might you walk alongside as you enter the season anew?

Blessings, Rev James

Church Office: 01483 825533
www.burphamchurch.org.uk