The Advent Musings of a Scottish Church Mouse…. with all the trimmings!!!
This is the post excerpt.
p.s. Boxing Day treat….
Duncan was still reeling from meeting Dora.
She was, he thought, just lovely!
And it turns out Dora was a church mouse too! She had been up to visit her cousins when Duncan had first met her and had had to go back home the very next day. It was Dora’s cousins who found the note from Duncan to Dora that Kirsty had hidden in the straw. The cousins got word to Dora who decided to come back north again for Christmas.
Dora had arrived on Christmas Eve, just in time for the Midnight Service and the two had not parted since. Duncan and Dora had gone to the morning service and then had talked and talked (between gloriously delicious morsels of food that Dora cooked) all Christmas Day.
The minister had called in to see them in the afternoon and she had just kept shaking her head and laughing as the two church mice talked over each other in their excitement at being together.
Then Duncan stopped for a moment and became very serious. “Two questions for you minister” he said. “Important questions.”
“Very” Dora agreed.
“Minister,” said Duncan with a very serious face and a nervous twitch the minister had never noticed before, “do you think there’s room here for two church mice?”
This time it was the minister’s turn to laugh. “Of course there is” said the minister and Dora who had been holding her breath, let out a squeal of delight. “And the other question?” the minister asked Duncan.
“Please can you” and here Duncan hesitated, “Please” he went on “can you order Marlene’s taxi to take us to Inverness airport?”
The minister hadn’t expected that one. “I’m sure” she said “I’m sure that can be arranged…”
“There is another question” this was Dora speaking, nudging Duncan forward as she did so.
“Oh yes” said Duncan, his face blushing slightly, “will you marry me?” Duncan asked the minister. “Oh Duncan” the minister said, “you know I’m married already!”
“No, no – not will you marry me” Duncan spluttered, “will you marry us. Dora and me?”
And right there and then, under the light of the Christmas star, with Angels and Shepherds and Wise Men as witnesses and under the gaze of the baby Jesus himself, Duncan and Dora were married.
After blessing them and praying together the minister asked where the two mice were off to.
“That was Dora’s present in the envelope” said Duncan, “she’s been talking to Jayne Pagan and they sorted out the trip.”
“Two church mice who met and were married at Christmas…” said Dora.
“We’re headed for Bethlehem” said Duncan putting on his sunglasses.
“Becuase we hope we’ve started a stable relationship….”
The minister groaned – then laughed “Be blessed, dear mice, be blessed” she said.
And they were off!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!
At last!
Christmas is here!
Duncan raced out from his home under the footboard of the organ to visit the manger. It wasn’t the real manger, just one to help everyone remember the story of the birth of Jesus.
Duncan looked up and saw the special star still shining above the pulpit and thought of the star the wise men followed. He saw the lambs by the manger and thought of the Shepherds. Duncan liked that posh people like the Kings and ordinary, everyday people like the Shepherds, all wanted to visit Jesus.
The Christmas tree continued to sparkle and Duncan thought its bright lights said so much about the joy of what happened on the very first Christmas.
“And the presents we give and get today” Duncan said out loud, “they remind us of how much others love us. The food we eat speaks of how fortunate we are – and the people we share Christmas with, they show us how wonderful it is both to love and to be loved.”
Duncan usually raced to open his presents but this Christmas, Duncan was beginning to understand that the best gifts don’t always come wrapped… What do you think, reader? Do you agree?
But wait! You don’t know, dear reader, what happened last night, do you?
Duncan had told the minister the mouse’s tale so that she could use it in her Midnight Service, then Duncan had joined in singing the Christmas carols and he had listened to the re-telling of the Christmas story.
Just before midnight, the lights were put out while everyone sang ‘Still the night”. When the lights came on again, the baby Jesus had been born and all of a sudden Duncan, from his vantage point under the tree, had felt, physically felt, the most enormous great wave of love washing over him. In that moment, Duncan knew (don’t ask him how – he just knew) that little, unknown, sometimes unseen, church mouse that he was, he was cherished by the God who had sent his own son into his world.
Then Duncan had felt a hand on his arm.
His heart missed a beat.
There beside him, was Dora Mouse. Duncan couldn’t believe his eyes!
“The baby came for both of us” Dora said.
And suddenly the whole building filled with the sound of “O come all ye faithful” and Duncan and Dora, laughing and hugging, joined in!
“The best presents don’t always come wrapped” said Dora – but she had in her hands an envelope for Duncan.
What did she give him?
That’s for the last of Duncan Mouse’s blogs… tomorrow.
Happy Christmas everyone!
December 24th – it’s Christmas Eve!!!
Duncan was soooooooo excited! Only one more sleep and it would be Christmas!
Duncan had to confess though, that he loved Christmas Eve almost as much as Christmas Day. It was the sense of anticipation… and the realisation that once evening came, there was no point in worrying about anything, Christmas was going to come whatever.
As a church mouse, Duncan also liked nothing better than to see lots of people coming to the Cathedral for the Christmas Eve service and he always got butterflies in his tummy wondering if this year they might run out of room. Since the Cathedral seats so many Duncan thought it unlikely – but he is perfectly happy to be proved wrong if you would care to pop along?
Tonight, Duncan knows, is going to be good. Not because of what the minister might say (that can be a bot of a hit or a miss) but because young David Munro, Embo’s answer to Robbie Williams, was going to be singing.
Duncan could feel a tingle of excitement running up his spine. Tonight, he could sense, was going to be incredibly special! “Mind you,” thought Duncan, “so it should be, because what we’re celebrating is the most mind-blowing, amazing, sensational gift ever! The gift of God with us.”
Duncan did a quick couple of back flips and raced in and out of the candles on the chancel steps. He raced up the pulpit steps, jumped onto the seat and then onto the ledge of the pulpit and with both of his little arms up in the air, Duncan squeaked at the top of his voice as loudly as he could: “I love Christmas” – then a smile spread across his face as he heard his voice echoing round the Cathedral.
“And so do I…!” came the reply.
What a fright Duncan got! He hadn’t heard anyone come in. “You’re mega cheery today, Duncan” said the minister, “it must be Christmas!”
“And you’re looking cheery too minister, considering you’ve still got your midnight sermon to write” replied Duncan. “The biggest gig of the year, according to the Vicar of Dibley. No pressure.”
The minister groaned.
“But I’m sure you’ll do just great” Duncan added quickly, hoping to cheer her up again. “And I can help you if you like. I could tell you the mouse’s tale and you could pass it on!”
“The mouse’s tale?” queried the minister. “Is there a mouse in the Christmas story?”
“Of course there is!” Duncan replied, “look let me tell you her story…..” and Duncan and the minister headed for the vestry (the cupboard the minister changes in).
What Duncan hadn’t told the minister was who else would be at the service.
Would you like to know?
Then perhaps you should come and see fr yourself…
On the 23rd Day – Christmas comes close…
Duncan knew he had one last present to pick up. He had ordered it through the bookshop and dropped by to collect it.
As always, as soon as he was inside he could see 101 other books he would love to buy. “I have your book here, Duncan” announced Denise and Duncan was so relieved. “This is the last present” he told her, delighted with himself. “Well done you” said Denise “I’ll bet the minister hasn’t even started her shopping yet!”
Duncan knew Denise was probably right but he hoped the minister was remembering his present. He had dropped enough hints to her about it! He picked up the book on warring against old age he had ordered to give to the minister (Duncan hoped she wouldn’t be offended, but he thought she needed to read it) and on the advice of Denise and Martin, Duncan had sat down with a weasily good read…
There was however, another reason he stayed on in the shop. From the window, he hoped he might see the lovely Dora passing. Duncan didn’t know if she had got his note yet and the days were passing. He was beginning to worry. “Perhaps” Duncan thought, “she doesn’t want to meet me!” The thought made Duncan shiver.
Martin thought Duncan was cold and might start sneezing again and so he asked him, seeing as he was a church mouse, if he would like to see their manger scene.
Duncan was popped in the window. (continues after picture)
Duncan loved the way people passing pointed to him. They waved to him and smiled. Kenny in the Butcher’s shop opposite, covered in turkey feathers, laughed when he saw Duncan in the window. Duncan decided it was ‘cool’ to be in the stable with the Shepherds and Wise men and Mary and Joseph and the baby. Duncan felt like a celebrity. “Sweet!” he thought.
But then he remembered the next part of the Christmas story – how the family had to flee their home with whatever they could carry because King Herod wanted to be rid of people like them. Again Duncan shivered.
He would like to have stayed in the glow of the stable in the shop window, but he knew the real world awaited him – and then a light went on in Duncan’s head… Duncan realised it was into the real world that Jesus was born. Not a shop front – but a real world in which people still flee and are hurt and are sad and desperate. “And that means” said the minister who had suddenly appeared to retrieve Duncan from the window, “it means that Jesus is with people in their pain. He’s not a film-set God. He understands what we go through and walks with us. Right by our side.”
Duncan liked that thought. He liked it a lot.
Then he panicked! The minister’s present! Had she seen it? But there was Denise with the all book wrapped up. “Happy Christmas, Duncan” she said with a wink!
December 22nd
“I don’t know why humans buy newspapers or listen to the news” said Duncan out loud, “it’s so depressing! There doesn’t seem to be any good news, only bad.”
Duncan closed the paper he had been reading and to cheer himself up, set about planning his day. To his delight, the Cathedral door opened and in walked the organist. Roddy is the kind of organist who is laid back – which is just as well since the minister is not the best at choosing the hymns in good time and often changes them again at the last minute.
Duncan squeaked with delight. All those cards he had to write and presents he had to wrap would be done now to the accompaniment of the organ!
Roddy played through a few of the carols from the carol book and Duncan set to, humming as he scribbled. Oh, how Duncan loved a good carol!
Then Roddy switched to other Christmas music and it was so jolly that before he knew it Duncan had his presents wrapped too, in no time at all!
The music changed again and this time Roddy went for something quieter and more reflective and Duncan Mouse, found his high spirits, calming.
“Ah” breathed Duncan, “how peaceful” and he let the peace spread its warm glow all the way from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. It was one of those moments when, for Duncan, time seemed to stand still and all was well with the world.
Duncan’s thoughts went back to the stories he had read in the newspapers. “This is what the world needs” Duncan thought to himself, “instead of all the warring and shooting and arguing over religion, the world needs to sit still and listen to its own heartbeat.”
And so, Duncan kept sitting still, kept listening…
And there it was.
A tiny sound that Duncan suddenly realised, was always there.
In his own heartbeat, he heard God’s heartbeat – the heartbeat of the God who had made him and who had given him life.
“Every one of us” thought Duncan, “wherever we live, whatever our accent, whether we are mouse or human or any other living thing, all of us hold something of God within us.”
The strains of a newer carol wafted over Duncan mouse and he hummed the words…
“Who would think that what was needed
To transform and save the earth
Might not be a plan or army,
Proud in purpose, proved in worth?
Who would think, despite derision,
That a child should lead the way?
God surprises earth with heaven,
Coming here on Christmas Day.”
And Duncan sighed. “Surprise us again, Lord” Duncan whispered, “we need you more than ever.”
21 today!!
Duncan Mouse woke with a temperature.
Feeling ill at any time is no fun, but it seems even worse at Christmas. Duncan thought of all he to do: there were presents to wrap and meals to plan as well as a special lady mouse he wanted to see.
“It would be just my luck” Duncan thought, “if she agreed to meet me and I was too ill to go”. Duncan’s ears drooped at the thought and he began to feel very sorry for himself indeed.
The minister missed Duncan’s usual squeaky welcome when she arrived at the Cathedral and went looking for him. She found him curled up, sniffling and sneezing and decided to fetch him a mouse-sized hot water bottle which she tucked in beside him.
“Can I get you anything else?” the minister asked Duncan Mouse. Duncan just gave a gentle shake of his head and then sneezed the loudest sneeze you have ever heard!
“Poor Duncan” said the minister, “A cold? Or man flu?”
Duncan was too miserable to reply. The minister gave him a warm drink and told him she was off to say her prayers but wouldn’t be long.
By the time she got back Duncan was feeling a bit better, but to be honest, he quite liked the minister making him drinks and tucking him in so when she asked how he was, Duncan groaned as though there was no improvement.
The minister took his hot water bottle to refill it.
As she did, Duncan felt a little peckish and thought he would scurry to his secret nibble-store. He reckoned he would be back in bed by the time the minister returned.
In the end, it was a close call. Very close.
Duncan thought however, that he had got off with it – although his cheeks were distinctly pink and he was obviously out of puff…
The minister popped the freshly filled hot water bottle in beside Duncan.
“Duncan” the minister said, “in my prayers just now, I was talking to God about a wee boy who is very unwell. He’s undergoing treatment that sometimes makes him feel worse instead of better. He’s being very brave but it’s hard being so ill while all your friends are enjoying Christmas.”
Duncan felt a twinge of guilt.
“It must be tough on his parents too.” the minister said, pausing and looking worried… “Do you think, Duncan” she said, “that maybe you could add the family to your prayers? I know you’re not feeling well but…..”
And Duncan said he would.
“Oh, and Duncan” said the minister, “one of your nibbles is stuck in your whiskers” and off she went.
“Lord Jesus” prayed Duncan, “help all who are feeling ill just now.
Help them to know they’re loved and that your coming at Christmas was with them in mind. Bless especially, the wee boy and his family. Please. And remind me how blessed I am. Amen”
the 20th….
It had been two, nearly three days since Duncan had been in the pet shop and whispered in Kirsty’s ear. He wondered if his plan had worked.
Duncan, if you remember, had asked Kirsty if she knew of other mice like him and Kirsty had said exactly what Duncan wanted to hear. Yes, she did. She also said that the owner of the mice came in regularly for straw for their beds.
While the minister had gone looking for dog chews, Duncan’s plan had hatched. Very quietly, so that the minister didn’t hear, Duncan had asked Kirsty if she could slip a mousey message into the straw, in the hope that Dora Mouse might find it.
Kirsty had agreed.
But she had to wait for the owner to need more straw.
Duncan’s dream was to meet Miss Dora Mouse and perhaps even marry her – but he was aware that was probably rushing things! Up until now all they had exchanged was a look. They had not spoken a single word!
Duncan sighed.
Since Christmas was now only a few days away, Duncan decided he needed to get Dora a present.
There are lots of lovely shops where Duncan lives in Dornoch, with lots of unusual and unique gifts in them, so it was not easy for Duncan to decide where to go or what to buy.
He could have asked the minister for her suggestions but he didn’t want her to know about his plans for Dora just yet and so poking his nose up from his home under the footboard of the organ, Duncan began to think hard about what Miss Dora Mouse might like.
He concentrated…
Focussed his eyes on the steps leading up to the chancel…
Then, suddenly, he knew precisely what he was going to give Dora Mouse.
He was a church mouse, wasn’t he? He would give Dora Mouse a candle! One that he had made himself. He would choose just the right scent to put in it. It would be just the right size for Dora Mouse. And just the right colour as well. It would be lovely to look at and lovely to smell and on top of that there was nothing more appropriate at Christmas time than to give a light to lighten the darkness – a light to remember the Light of the world.
Duncan, right then, felt quite holy and wondered if the minister could perhaps use that line on Christmas Eve?
As Duncan scampered to the candle shop, he hoped Claire had time to help him. He wanted this to be so special.
“I wonder” thought an excited and determined Duncan, “if this is how God felt when he prepared for that very first Christmas? He too wanted those he loves, to have the perfect gift. And his really was. He was perfect in every way” The bell on the door of the shop tinkled when Duncan opened it.
And phew! Claire was there…
19th December – jumpers galore!
The minister decided that it would do Duncan Mouse good to have a ‘boys’ day and so it was arranged for Duncan to be picked up and taken across the water to Tain.
Duncan had a ball over there. He paid his £1 and wore his jumper to the Christmas Jumper day at Craighill Primary School where he was introduced to some of the staff and pupils. He went to the Christmas concert at the Academy. But best of all he got to share an early Christmas lunch with his friend Brogar and all his friends. He thought the dinner ladies in the school were lovely and so kind to him, despite his being a mouse near their kitchen.
Duncan also thought it was so kind of Brogar’s biggest brother who is learning to drive, to come and fetch him and all three boys made Duncan feel so at home in their family.
Duncan thought the minister (for once) had been right. A ‘boys’ day was just what the doctor ordered.
But his day away had also made Duncan think.
Back in his own space under the footboard of the organ, Duncan thought about the boys and how fortunate they are to have a mum and a dad to care for them and a safe place to sleep and to play. It made Duncan feel that one day he would like to do the same for any family he might have.
It was then that his thoughts wandered to the minister and a conversation they had had a few days before.
The minister had been talking to God – praying it’s called – and had got upset. Duncan had sidled up to her. Her eyes had been closed (because that’s what people often do when they talk to God) so he had nudged her with his little nose.
“Are you okay?” Duncan had asked the minister.
“Not really, Duncan” the minister had replied.
“Want to tell me what’s up?” and then Duncan had sat quietly, waiting for her to speak.
The minister took a deep breath. “Sometimes Duncan, humans can be so unkind to one another” she said. “I saw a picture on the news of a wee boy. He can’t have been more than 3 or 4 years old. He had been pulled from a bombed-out house in Aleppo. He was dirty and hurt. But Duncan” and Duncan could see she was getting upset again, “He didn’t make a sound. He just sat and stared. No crying. No tears. Just silence.”
Duncan thought of the boys whose company he had just enjoyed. “Parents all over the world” he said to himself, “whether human or mousey, all want their children to be happy and safe. Is that too much to ask?”
And Duncan felt a teardrop forming.
The baby in the manger cried too.
“Come Prince of peace” Duncan whispered “and teach us all how to live in peace.”
18th December – and a tired mouse…
Duncan couldn’t sleep.
He knew he needed to, but every time his head hit the pillow in his home under the organ footboard, his brain would go into overdrive.
Duncan tried going out for a walk. He even made himself a cup of warm milk and listened to some gentle music. Nothing worked.
In the darkness of the church, in the middle of the night, Duncan felt he was all alone. “Everyone else” Duncan thought, “is warm and cosy in their bed, fast asleep.” The thought made Duncan feel sad and he sighed a deep sigh.
Then Duncan remembered old Mar Mouse, the mouse other mice either loved or were not so keen on, telling him that sometimes he couldn’t sleep at night and what he would do is find someone to talk to.
Mar Mouse would talk to friends online.
Or occasionally, when he felt really, really sad and didn’t want to bother his friends, he would phone the Samaritans.
Duncan realised that although it might feel like it, the chances were that he was probably not the only one, unable to get to sleep.
Duncan’s worry was however, in a sense, a happy one. He simply wanted to see Dora Mouse again. He realised others had far more troublesome things on their minds keeping them awake. Duncan didn’t feel the cause of his sleeplessness was one to bother the lovely people at the Samaritans with, so he wracked his brains for someone else to talk to.
The minister would answer her phone but Duncan thought she needed her beauty sleep. Lots of it.
Duncan knew too, because he was a church mouse, that he could always talk to God and he would listen but right then Duncan wanted to look another being in the eye – which is why, in the wee small hours, Duncan Mouse found himself climbing up the Cathedral Christmas tree…
There, right at the top, was someone he could talk to.
The Christmas Angel listened patiently as Duncan talked of Dora and as he did he began to realise how good but also how exhausting it is to love another – especially one who doesn’t yet know she’s loved…
“Dear God” Duncan whispered, “how must you feel? You love all your creatures and while some know you love them, too many don’t. But then…” Duncan paused to find the right words, “that’s why the baby Jesus was born – wasn’t it! To show your love! And it’s why we have to tell the Christmas story. To share your love.”
Duncan Mouse looked the Christmas Angel in the eye and thanked her for her help. He ran down the tree again to his home under the organ footboard and fell asleep counting his greatest blessing.
God loved him. The proof…. was in the baby in the manger.
On the 17th day of December…
Since Duncan had met his friends in the shop yesterday and spotted the lovely Dora Mouse, Duncan had not quite been himself.
When the minister arrived at the Cathedral she found him lying on the organ stool, hands behind his head, staring, with a dreamy, faraway look in his eyes.
“Come on, Duncan” the minister said, “you’re coming with me” and she popped the mouse in her pocket.
“Where are you taking me?” Duncan asked from amongst the fluff and the polo mints. But the minister didn’t answer. Not until they got to what the minister described as “that really good pet shop”.
There Duncan was plucked from her pocket and placed on the counter. “He needs” said the minister, “either a treat or a tonic.”
Kirsty, the owner gave Duncan a sympathetic look and asked him if he wanted to talk about it.
The minister had wandered off looking for dog chews for the animal she shared her home with, so Duncan felt brave enough to ask Kirsty if she knew of any other mice in Dornoch.
Kirsty took a moment…. “There’s a family in Stafford Road with mice.” She said, “but they’re all white mice. There are mice in the old shed opposite the health centre too – but I’m not sure they’re exactly pets.”
Duncan felt himself getting agitated, “But do you know any mice like me?” he asked a hint of desperation in his voice.
Kirsty thought again. “Now you come to mention it….” and she paused. Duncan’s heart missed a beat as he waited for her to continue. “there are mice a lot like you in the shop opposite The Jail. Their owner comes in here regularly for some fresh straw for their bedding!”
Duncan felt his spirits soar. He motioned to Kirsty to bend down, and he whispered something in her ear, then jumped and squeaked and ran round in circles with excitement!
“I have no idea what you gave him, Kirsty” the minister said, “but it seems to be working!”
Kirsty glanced at Duncan who tried his best to look innocent. It wasn’t in the least bit convincing. The minister picked him up and looking him straight in the eye said, “Out with it Duncan. What are you planning?”
And Duncan, with his fingers and toes crossed, said “Nothing!”
The minister and he both knew that wasn’t quite true.
Kirsty certainly did.
“Let’s get you back to the Church” and the minister slipped Duncan back in her pocket and said goodbye to Kirsty.
And Duncan found himself saying a prayer.
Lord, you said, “love your neighbour”
I know you said that, meaning that we should take care of everyone around us in this world.
But I think I love my neighbour Dora…
In a different way – could that be?
Bless her, Lord
And me.
And all my neighbours – especially those in distant lands. Amen
