I am beginning to think about writing my Christmas cards and at this time as I go through the list of people I am uncomfortably aware of the cards I wrote promising to keep in touch more often, because once again  I have not managed to do that, and this is the first communication since last year's card.

I am painfully aware that when the contact comes down to once a year I have missed out on the important things in other people's lives and the friendship is harder and harder to sustain.Instead of sharing things which are meaningful the conversation becomes about small talk and general things.

So it can be too with God, if we only dip in to speak to him or read his word from time to time, it is hard to build up our relationship with him and to feel close to him. Lately as I have become busier  I have found it harder to find time to read and reflect and pray, and then I wondered today why I felt so far away from God. It is the Christmas card problem all over again.