Lord of the Glen
Well, it’s official.
You can call me Lord—only if you want.
Lord Taylor.
Lord Gregg.
Or, if you’re feeling especially formal: Lord Reverend.
That’s right. I am now a Scottish Lord. A return to my ancestral roots.
I am the proud owner of a one–square–foot plot of land in the western Highlands, near Glencoe, not far from the Atlantic. One foot by one foot. Roughly the size of a welcome mat.
I even have official paperwork to prove it. Sealed. Signed. Dated. A certificate and a map—complete with longitude and latitude. From a distance, it all looks very impressive. Zoom in close enough, and eventually you’ll find my plot—right there, doing absolutely nothing.
According to the official description, I own a piece of Scottish terra firma “of inconsiderable size or no practical utility.” Which feels like a polite way of saying: Congratulations—you own something that is completely unnecessary.
I suppose that’s true. And yet… I love it.
So what does that have to do with this third week of Advent—the week of joy?
It strikes me that, like my plot of land, joy doesn’t always need “practical utility.” In other words, joy doesn’t need a purpose. Sometimes it just needs permission. Joy doesn’t always show up as something big or impressive. Sometimes it’s small, unimpressive, easy to miss—unless we slow down long enough to notice it.
And I suppose that’s how God’s love comes to us.
Think about it.
Jesus’ arrival is not efficient or practical. Christ comes as a child—born in a quiet, out-of-the-way town—just a small dot on a map. In borrowed space. Into a world that wasn’t ready. From a distance, it doesn’t look impressive. But up close? Well… it changes everything.
So this week, maybe joy shows up for you as something of “inconsiderable size.” If it does, don’t talk yourself out of it. Make room for it. Let it be enough.
After all, if a one–square–foot plot of Scottish soil can make me Lord of the Glen… who knows? Maybe a small, seemingly unremarkable moment sneaks in—and becomes a gift of genuine joy.
Much love…and joy,
Pastor Gregg
