“O come, let us adore
Him, Christ the Lord.”
Quick Christmas Quiz—What do you call the grouping of Mary,
Joseph, Jesus, shepherds, magi, angels, and obligatory farm animals?? If you said nativity, manger scene, crèche,
or something close, you’re right!! Most
of us have at least one of these in our homes during Christmas, but why? What is the purpose of the porcelain,
ceramic, wood, plastic, or Popsicle stick figurines we proudly display on our
coffee tables and counter tops?
The obvious reason is decoration. Manger scenes are pretty. Whether painted brightly or polished
smoothly, they look nice and people notice them. (One of my favorites was a Waterford crystal
nativity gracing a black top table at a former place of employment.) There just isn’t an ugly nativity. Even those which are faded or fashioned by
the least-artistic still display an intrinsic beauty because of the story they
represent.
Sharing this story is the second reason we set up manger
scenes—for declaration. There, in varied
arrangement, a few small statues reveal the most amazing narrative—the true
tale of the God who didn’t want to live
without us and so He came to us, wrapped in baby-soft skin, born in a barn, lying
in a manger. No wonder Mary and Joseph
always look amazed, the shepherds seem so awed, the Wise Men stand mouths
gaping with gifts forward, and the angel hovers above proud and
protective. This simple scene silently
states to those who see it that there is a God—a God who cares.
His love leads to the third purpose for a nativity—invitation. The assorted assemblage around the manger
beckons us all—needy, wealthy, well-known, obscure, or ordinary—to come and
worship. To pause what we’re doing and
say thanks. To stop our holiday
scurrying and ponder the wonder that God came to be with us. That’s why, this year, my manger scene has an
empty spot—a big, bare space to Mary’s left.
Though a quick glance confirms that all normal characters are present,
it looks like someone is missing—because I am.
Each time I look at my nativity, I am invited kneel by the manger and
join the adoration .
Try it this Christmas.
Rearrange your nativity. Move
over the Wise Men and make room for one more. You.
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