It seems like some of the Christmas rituals of yesteryear have faded, but not my memories of them. I am still inspired by the occasionally encountered nativity scene recreated by child actors in all the parts. As a 10-year old, I was one such actor.
My memory hearkens back to when Eisenhower was President and when my family lived in Cedar City, Utah. My LDS chapel was just a couple of blocks away from where we lived. It was a Sunday, and I had been assigned to be a shepherd in the children's program during a Sacrament meeting.
It might have been more fun to play Joseph or to be one of the Three Wise Men – or so I briefly thought at the time. But, instead, I was assigned to be a humble shepherd boy. And, humble I was.
My costume was a bathrobe with a towel banded around my head. When I reported to the Chapel it seemed like all the other children had better outfits. Theirs looked more realistic.
The superficial concerns melted as the play began and I knelt before the baby Jesus. It no longer mattered that I was not Joseph, or that I did not have a speaking part, or that I did not have a shepherd's cane. In the cradle was a doll or maybe a real baby – I do not exactly remember. Regardless, I felt like I was kneeling before the Son of God.
At that moment I learned that some things are sacred. I experienced what true reverence felt like. The lesson stuck, and it still applies.
In this life we cannot all play the parts of Mary, Joseph, or even the Wise Men. Most of us cannot be Stake Presidents, Bishops, or even High Priests. We cannot all earn six figures and wear fancy clothes. On the surface we may be different in many ways, but such differences do not matter. We are all the same when we kneel before the baby Jesus.
The ranks and files of this life are temporary. In fact, positions are only useful when we serve each other, not the self. Our gift to the baby Jesus is our service to others. The baby Jesus is the symbol of pure altruism.
At this Christmas time, despite the fancy decorated trees, the flashing lights, and the wrapped presents, let us remember to kneel beside the baby Jesus.
Merry Christmas!!
Copyright © 2010 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
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6 comments:
Lovely post, a good reminder. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
"My memory hearkens back to when Eisenhower was President"
You're old... and I might add, very wise! =:) I hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Christmas.
Stan:
In case you missed it, I refer you to "The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Aging."
I tell my wife I am wise. She says, "A wise crack." My wife is seldom wrong.
Have a very merry Christmas! I look forward to following your blog throughout 2011.
Merry Christmas SFaux. I too was the shepherd boy - back in 1975.
Indeed, it does not matter what our status in the church or life is when we kneel before the Lord of Savior of the world.
Best wishes to everyone reading this.
I want you to know that I have enjoyed reading your blog and have included it in My personal list of Faithful blogs. Thank you.
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