The Christmas Story

Every Advent season, I dutifully scatter stacks of devotionals and poetry around our house with great intentions of picking them up for daily reflection. And, while those books do get read intermittently, sooner or later, somewhere between making gingerbread and stuffing stockings, I invariably find myself drawn to re-read one of my very favorite stories... The Lord of the Rings. I read these books almost every year while sitting within the glow of the Christmas tree, neglecting other pressing tasks in order to follow two hobbits on a quest to save Middle Earth.

Why am I so drawn to that particular story at this time of year? Well, part of it is that I am tired, and it is comforting to sink into a familiar story. Mostly, though, it's simply because humans love stories; it is written into the way we are created. And, in that beautiful, immersive story, I find truth: human, cosmic, and beautiful truths, all of which work to deepen and enlighten my connection to God's story of redemption. 

Whenever our pastor uses narrative to introduce a sermon or illustrate a point, I like to look around and notice all of the children perk up and pay attention. Story grabs them, draws them in and opens up new connections like no lecture or preaching will do. Even if we are older, story resonates with all of us, and it helps to illuminate and strengthen our understanding. We are able to fully enter into story; it enhances our ability to imagine and empathize, it makes room for mystery and delight. And, of course, Jesus told many stories in order to communicate truths about his Kingdom. 

The Christmas story is one that can particularly grab us, if we let it. The story of the incarnation is powerful in its simple impossibility. Our reasonable minds sometimes skim over the irrationality of this story, the "Word became flesh" part. We have Mary's submission to God's will, Joseph's compassion, and no room in the inn. And then there are the shepherds... my personal favorite, because here are the blue-collar guys, those who work all day in the muck and the mire 1 and are looked down upon because of it. God sends his angels as a birth announcement to them! The angels sing out the story and the gruff, dirty shepherds get to be the first to check it all out. Beautiful!

In The Lord of the Rings, Samwise Gamgee, wise hobbit that he is, tries to keep Frodo's spirits up by talking about the old tales and songs, and the brave people in them. At the end of his musings, Sam ends up at the Silmarils, and has a sudden realization: that he and Frodo are continuing the old stories that he loves. "And why, sir, I never thought of that before! We've got - you've got some of the light of it in that star-glass that the Lady gave you! Why, to think of it, we're in the same tale still! It's going on."

Just like Sam and Frodo, we are continuing the story: the one of God's love and redemption. We pick up the threads as best we can and work together to weave our piece, trusting that it is part of a bigger picture. The work of our day-to-day lives is all wrapped up inside God's story, the one that began with creation and continues on today. It's going on.

Have a blessed Advent and Christmas season.

 

1. [A line borrowed from "Hillbilly Shoes," a song my dad used to sing at the end of a long day.]↩

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