During this season of Advent and the days of December, I find myself enjoying not just the time now with friends and family but also thinking of Christmases past. Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge, I am not haunted by the days of Christmas past. It is perhaps more accurate to say that I savor it like a freshly made cup of hot chocolate that warms my hands and my throat as I take the first sips of it. I have always enjoyed seeing a living nativity scene whether it be by young children in a church sanctuary or by youth and/or adults on selected nights near Christmas.
Around 1970, the youth of my home church decided they wanted to do a living nativity scene for church members and community alike. There was another church in the northern part of the county was doing the same, and it gave us the idea. As we discussed it, some of the parents said they would help us build a stable. A group of the younger boys quickly volunteered to be shepherds. Our youth leader began to assign youth to be the main characters: Mary, Joseph, and the angels. One of the youth remembered that Mr. Parks had sheep that we probably could use for the event instead of cardboard cut-outs. Some of the more creative youth said they would create signs to tell the community that could be posted along the side of the road. Other youth quickly said that they were certain their Moms would prepare some hot chocolate and goodies for the youth to eat. A plan was made and a date was set. We just knew it would be a great event.
And so, it came to pass that the night for our living nativity scene came. The signs were posted along the side of the road and the make-shift stable was made including a manger where a baby doll impersonated the baby Jesus. And lo and behold, people came! Yet, the living nativity did not turn out as well as we would have liked. Some of the shepherds got restless and wandered off and so did the sheep. Unfortunately, the novice shepherds were not very good at their job and one of the sheep wandered into the road. Some of the wise men got cold, and were more interested in partaking of the hot chocolate and goodies in the warm fellowship hall. It was a living nativity, but it was not perfect!
As Christmas approaches, perhaps you are beginning to feel like this will not be a perfect Christmas. Ones you love will not all be there. Your pile of bills will be higher than the packages under the tree. A chair is empty where someone sat last Christmas. Christmas just does not feel right. And you know what? The first Christmas was not perfect either. Joseph failed to make a reservation in Bethlehem for a room. Mary must have wished that her Mama was there to be with her when she gave birth. And the shepherds and sheep! When the shepherds came to see the newborn Messiah, what happened to those sheep?
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PRAYER -- O God, we rejoice in the truth that God is with us
and that Christ Jesus came to save us from our sins. Thank you for your perfect love that
touches our imperfect lives. We praise
you; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
