We have a Christmas tree. We decorate cookies. We hang stockings. We exchange gifts. We read books about Santa and Rudolph and Frosty. We put lights around the house. We pray for extra snow at the cabin. All of that is LOTS of fun! But it's not the point. I think that more than ever this year, I am struck by the real meaning of Christmas. Maybe it is because of the horror of the Sandy Hook shootings last week and the deep sorrow that still lingers. Sin hurts. But it started before that too. Earlier this year, we had a guest speaker at church who preached about some of our misconceptions related to the birth of Jesus. I think that was back in March or April. Ever since then, I have been mulling over what he said. The Christmas story is beautiful...but it is full of shame, hardship and sorrow. The darkness of those events, makes the love of God shine all the brighter. How our sin-sick world needs to know this Love! I have worked on this poem off and on all year. It's still not quite right...but almost.
Christmas Poem
All my life I’ve heard it tell
How the Holy Child was born.
My mind is filled with pictures
Of that early Christmas morn.
But as I read the Scriptures
And weigh the evidence,
I realize I’ve misconstrued
Some critical events.
Our carols speak of busy inns,
Of bells and silent nights,
Of drummer boys and angel choirs
Of sheep and stars and lights.
We’ve glamorized that little scene
And carved it out of wood.
But I can’t help but wonder -
Have
we really understood?
Mary was a maiden
From the land of Galilee.
She was nervously preparing
For her wedding jubilee.
She was betrothed to Joseph,
An artisan by trade.
The contract had been settled
And arrangements had been made.
Nazareth was a little village
Nestled in the hills.
The people there worked long and hard
Without a lot of frills.
In the months before the wedding
There was much the two must do.
There were many stipulations
If, by birth, you were a Jew.
Joseph would have added
A room to papa’s house.
The date was set to occupy
When they had made their vows.
His family was working hard
In eager expectation
Of soon adding some numbers
To their home, their clan, their nation.
Meanwhile, Mary was preparing
Herself as Joseph’s bride.
He would soon come to fetch her.
His heart would fill with pride.
She wanted to be beautiful
For that festive wedding day.
With oils and sweet perfumes
She prepared in every way.
When one day, in the interval
Between vows and consummation,
Gabriel came to Mary
With astonishing revelation.
The angel brought her news
Of her role in God’s great plan:
She would carry in her womb
The Hope of every man.
With humility and reverence
She accepted this high calling.
Though, certainly, the news of this
To some would be appalling.
For centuries the Jews had waited
To hear a word from God.
But a virgin who was pregnant?!
How scandalous! How odd!
How the rumors must have flown
Around that little town.
“Did you hear…?” “Can you believe…?”
Echoed up the streets and down.
Mary would be outcast
By all whom she held dear.
Heads would turn, eyes would dart
Whenever she came near.
Joseph tried with all his might
To protect her reputation.
He devised a plan to remedy
This shameful situation.
He would divorce her quietly.
He would not cast a stone.
She could live – but always be
Outcast, unloved, alone.
But then one night, as Joseph slept,
He also heard a voice
Telling him that Mary was
God’s very special choice.
She would be the mother
Of God’s son in human skin.
This child would ransom mankind
From the dreadful curse of sin.
So there was no festive banquet -
No jubilant parade.
Joseph fetched his humble bride.
God’s calling they obeyed.
They tried to live among their kin
But were looked upon with scorn.
So they made their way to Bethlehem
Before the child was born.
There was indeed a census
And registration was required.
But they didn’t come skidding into town
Bedraggled, sore and tired.
The pain that Mary surely felt
Was not the pain of labor,
But the weight of her position
As the maiden of God’s favor.
The couple looked for lodging
Among relatives in town,
But due to their “condition”
Were repeatedly turned down.
There was no room for youngsters
Who had soiled their reputation.
The due date loomed. It was indeed
A desperate situation.
Finally, a home was made
In a cave pen full of sheep.
Filth was scooped, fresh water drawn
And the straw piled in a heap.
Mary made the best of things
As the days passed slowly by.
She probably kept to herself
Away from curious eyes.
And then, the glorious night
Of our Messiah’s birth!
The Son of God in Heaven
Became the Son of Man on Earth.
The Father broke his silence
In a most amazing way:
He sent a little baby
To be born on dirt and hay!
The heavens could not keep still!
They burst forth with song and mirth.
A new star and hosts of angels appeared
To announce the Savior’s birth.
Yet to whom did they appear?
Where was the news released?
To lowly shepherds on a hill.
To astrologers in the East.
The shepherds left their flocks that
night
To see this little child.
Their
Savior born in Bethlehem?!
Curiosities ran wild.
A star led them to the place
Where their Good Shepherd lay.
They knelt and worshiped Him
On the musty smelling hay.
The brightness of the star
That appeared in charted skies,
Was immediately noticed
By men with keen, sharp eyes.
It was such a great discovery
That they quickly packed their things
And traveled long and far
To see this grand, new king.
Months later, when they arrived,
Things were not as they expected.
There was no regal throne room
As they likely had projected.
Instead, there was a humble home
Where they found a little boy.
They knelt and worshipped him
And gave their gifts with joy.
But wicked old King Herod -
He could not let this rest.
A rival to his position
Let him feeling much distress.
In his jealousy and rage
He devised an evil plan:
To murder male babies
In that region of the land.
So Joseph took his family
In the middle of the night.
They escaped to Egypt
And lived quite out of sight.
The Creator of the Universe -
Yes!
God’s very Son!
Was born into obscurity
And now was on the run.
Everything was happening
Just as the prophets said,
But few people took notice
Because their hearts were dead.
They were busy in the marketplace,
In the fields and at the gates.
Putting clothes upon their backs,
Finding food to fill their plates.
They were looking for a Savior
Who would free them from oppression,
Not a humble Servant
Who would pay for their transgression.
They wanted a kingdom
Full of power, wealth and glory!
But clearly that is not how God
Had chosen to write this story.
And what of me? What do I see
When I read God’s Holy Word?
Do I hear a deep, love story?
Or do the facts seem too absurd?
As I think about these scenes
I pray I won’t forget
The condescending love God showed
To pay my awful debt.
From now on at Christmas
I will see the other side -
The part our cards and carols
Unintentionally hide.
I will thank God for the bitter pain
That was part of His great plan
To show the riches of His love
For each and every man.
Merry Christmas!
