11th January 2026
No matter how long I’ve been here, the moment I open my mouth people look at me and think ‘you’re not from here!’. Where are you from? I’m often asked – especially by people trying to work out my Southern Hemisphere country of origin (and not offend me!). ‘Suffolk’, I say! To the quizzical looks, I add, ‘This is a Suffolk brogue!’ with a smile. ‘How long have you been here?’ ‘Over 20 years.’ ‘Well, you haven’t lost your accent!’ And since I don’t hear my accent, I reply, ‘Apparently not!’.
With the accent comes preconceived ideas about all sorts of things. Creepy crawling things are a big mention. (Ok, I don’t usually raise the subject of cricket but I’ll happily talk about it when raised. J Whoops! Did I just mention The Ashes?! 😉 ) With the clerical collar can also come preconceived ideas – often not the best these days – though I recall being invited to a local pub and surprising people by attending and then surprising one fellow even more when he discovered I was married with five children! J
Preconceptions – and possibly distance – can give way to relationships when we listen and learn from each other – and discover commonalities and that we all want to see children smile and never harmed, we all want to live with truth and be safe, we all want to be loved and fed and warm, and more. ‘You’re not from here’ can become part of the story of any here and now – enriching it.
The Church is just leaving the Christmas Season with the message of Jesus – the Word made flesh – definitely being one of ‘you’re not from here’. The accounts of angels, scandal, Wise Men, and star all present a message that God is entering the world – not as a superhero with fantastic powers – but in the darkness of a womb, a human birth, poverty, becoming a refugee – as one of us – a human being.
Today the Church celebrates Jesus’ Baptism and it was John the Baptist who paused – you’re not from here, Jesus! – but Jesus insisted on the Baptism of John as a mark of solidarity with human beings who struggle, who have fears and shame and guilt, who want to do right but don’t, who don’t really care about others, who feel trapped and abused – no matter how tough things can be for a person, Jesus’ Baptism links him with sinners.
And that blows up, probably, all the preconceived ideas humanity has of God! Who would have thought that God would enter his own creation to rescue us from the world we have made, make, and will make? Who could have imagined a God who serves his people and builds relationships with them – through words, water, bread and wine – so that they, too, desire to serve those around them? Who could imagine God on the cross in the darkness defeating the powers of sin, shame, and death for us?
Jesus, you’re not from here! Yes, he is after all! Forgiving us and helping us live, God makes his home with people – and that’s true wherever we live!
GS