Went to the church nativity play this morning. My boy was the main character in a "21st" century version of the old story. This included Santa as the narrator. Given that significant numbers of children think Christmas is the celebration of Santa's birthday I was not sure that this was the wisest casting choice but all went well.
There was of course the usual chaos of such events. My wife was drafted in as an angel at the last minute to substitute for the non appearance of some of the heavenly creatures due to colds. The prompt worked overtime as stage-fright was rife but it wouldn't be the same if everything went slickly and smoothly.
I love the whole build up to Christmas. I know that for many it's no longer a religious experience but for me its so crucial in my own faith journey from the manger to the cross and then the empty tomb. The problem for me, as it is for the whole Christian community is that the rest of the world wants to keep the baby in the manager to avoid the deeper message of the Christ among us, that the peace of the world will happen only when we love not just our neighbour, or even the stranger, but our enemy as would have them love us. Easy words but tough to live; but imagine a world where we did so.
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2 comments:
Hey Ewan--this is an old friend across the pond who got your blog address from your Christmas card (I hope to get mine out by new years!). Merry Christmas--yesterday was our children's program here and it was wonderful despite a winter storm about 1/2 of the churches in town canceling. Stop over at my blog sometime (btw, I don't take about work and little about family, it's mostly personal reflections and experences along with book reviews and some satire.
Sage
great to hear from you again
I will be over there on your blog soon
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