She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7 WEB)
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin, mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
When we think about the birth of Jesus, the images our imagination produces are often informed by the Christmas carols and manger scenes we have heard and seen. Likely we imagine a calm and peaceful scene in a fairly clean cave or stable. Soft straw and warm blankets are available for Mary and the baby, as a gentle light from the star surrounds them. Joseph stands quietly nearby, protective and helpful. This is the scene we would hope for them. But was it their reality?
In Luke 2, we are told that Mary is giving birth to the Messiah in a shelter for animals because there was no room for them in the inn. This was because everyone was on the move, registering for the Roman census in their own home towns. So, if the towns were so full of travelers that there was not even one spare room for a young woman to deliver her baby, I think the reality was far different than what we imagine.
With thousands of people on the move, the streets of Bethlehem must have been crowded, chaotic, and noisy. Think of all the bustle, dust, and commotion produced by the thronging mass of people with their carts and donkeys and bundles of supplies. Add to that all the Roman soldiers and officials who were there to take the census, and you probably have the furthest scene imaginable from a “silent night, holy night” that you can find.
Now imagine Mary and Joseph thrown into all that commotion as they frantically search for any accommodations they can find, and you probably have a scene closer to their reality. And yet, in the midst of these chaotic circumstances in which they find themselves, something very beautiful takes place. An event that has been awaited for centuries finally unfolds, and a little baby, the Savior of the world, is born.
Did Mary and Joseph, like all new parents, gaze at their little child, marveling at each perfectly formed, tiny finger and toe? Did it comfort them to feel the warmth of his small body as they snuggled him close for the first time?
Sometimes if we wait for things to be perfect before taking the time to see the beautiful moments in our lives, we will miss them. The noise and busyness of daily life can be overwhelming and demand all of our concentration and attention. Yet in the midst of it all, God often drops a most beautiful moment into our ordinary mess of life. I need to remind myself to make an effort to notice those precious moments for what they are. They are gifts from God as He reminds us that He is near to us, even in the midst of our sometimes hectic and chaotic lives.
God doesn’t wait until everything is perfect in our lives before He can show up. If the Christmas story teaches us anything at all, it is that God steps down into our mess and meets us there. Now, once He is there, He may want to start work on cleaning up some of the messes in our hearts and souls, if we invite Him to do that. But we can be sure that He will never turn us away, no matter how much our life unravels.
Today, look for and savor every beautiful moment you find in your day: the clasp of a child’s hand in yours, a hug from a friend, the color of the sky, the warmth of a smile, the Bible verse that pops up in your social media feed. May you see those moments as gifts from God. And may that draw your attention towards the God who loves you and desires to be a part of all the moments of your life in an even deeper way. For He is Emmanuel, God with us.
James 1:17 (WEB)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…
“SIlent Night,”sung by Josh Groban.
Scripture is from the World English Bible (WEB), Public Domain.