The Nativity Set

Maybe your family is like mine - we had a lovely nativity set growing up - my dad had made the structure and the pieces were beautiful - but we played with it - a lot. I know that my Barbie dolls made frequent visits to the scene. I am not sure how that all went down, but it seemed to work. Maybe they just visited - or dressed up Mary more modern like, who knows? I do know that I really loved the three kings. They were mysterious to me. Where were they from, that their clothes were so colorful, their skin so beautiful and coming with gifts when they didn’t have exact information - just stars that led them there?

My family teases me still - I married someone from the Middle East who coincidently looks a lot like one of those statues from the nativity! I am still intrigued by their travels today. They took a very big leap of faith, or they were certain of their calculations and convinced the whole entourage that they were right and would find this king by following the star. I imagine they were certain and had faith in what they knew and the journey was one of wonder and hope.

We don’t know the details of their travel, but I am sure it was no small expedition. It took people, animals, food, water, blankets, tea pots and cookware, dishes and clothing. It was a journey of a lifetime.

This Christmas we feel a bit like those travelers. It’s been an Advent season that has us walking in faith into the unknown each day. We’ve tried to prepare and have what we need, but there are days we are improvising. We usually have gatherings, and parties, Secret Santa’s at the office and prayer services, concerts and preparing for family gatherings here and there. But this year, we are worried about germs and contact, air and proximity. We are showing our love by not showing up - it’s here that we are improvising.

We are living in faith. Faith that if we do what’s best right now, we will be able to enjoy Advents and Christmas’s in the future. We believe what we can not yet see.

Those travelers from the East - the wise men trusted their calculations and set out. That’s good advice for us this month. Let’s trust that this Christmas, there will be wonder, joy, peace and the angels will sing as we set out to welcome Jesus into our hearts, homes and this struggling world. Let’s set out to make known to all we encounter that God is with us - and His love is big, beautiful, generous, powerful, and is ours for the asking.

With love,

Jane

Photo by Craig Adderley from Pexels