Christmas Time
“Today in the town of
David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
Whether you’re a fan
of H.G. Wells or Michael J. Fox, for many decades, time travel has been an
intriguing and fascinating illusion.
Some have day-dreamed of hopping into a time machine and setting a
digital date of destination while others have mentally escaped into a DeLorean
sports car (from Back to the Future)
and driven into the city sky. Which of
us at one time or another has not wondered what it must have been like to live
during the days of the Old West, the Revolutionary War or Medieval Times? Been there…done that!
Years ago, in a book
entitled A Sense of History, many
authors and scholars were asked to tell which historical event they would have
liked to have witnessed…if they could travel in time. Each was asked to respond to the same
question, “What is the one scene in American history you would have most liked
to have witnessed- and why?” You can imagine some of the responses:
-One person said he
would have liked to have been among that small company of sailor with Christopher Columbus, in the moonlit
predawn moment, October 12, 1492, when a lookout aboard a small vessel hailed
the sand cliffs of an island never before seen by the eyes of Europeans.
-Another said he would
like to have been with Lewis and Clark
in November of 1805 when they first glimpsed the objects of their labor, the Pacific Ocean. He
wished he could have looked over the shoulder of William Clark as he scribbled
in his log book, “Ocean in view…oh, the joy!”
-An interesting
selection came from one who wished he could have witnessed that intimate,
nostalgic moment when Abraham Lincoln,
the President-elect, said farewell to his neighbors in Springfield.
-One wanted to be by Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s side on December 7, 1941, when he
received news of the Japanese attack. He
said he would like to have seen the one who brought the Pearl Harbor dispatch
and then to find out whom Roosevelt contacted
first…and to have known when he first began his “Day of Infamy” speech.
While there are many great scenes in American history, what
if we would expand it out to Biblical history?
There seem to be so many to choose from.
Talking with Adam and Even in the garden, staring as Abraham lifts his
knife at Moriah, standing by Moses at the Red Sea and cheering for David
against Goliath to name a few.
But none would
compare to the quiet stirrings of a tiny babe that Bethlehem night more than 2000 years ago. Luke quoted the angels’ words to the
shepherds by saying, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been
born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This
will be a sign to you. You will find the
baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (2:10-12)
This Christmas, as I
traveled back in time, I can picture myself standing in a stable straw,
observing the stillness of the evening air and taking in the surroundings of
the most spectacular night this world has ever known. Better than finding the new world, spotting
the Pacific, Lincoln leaving Springfield and Roosevelt in the oval office all
combined. As I peer, in my mind, over
Mary’s shoulder, I can’t forget the angels’ message, “Savior in view…oh, the joy!”
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) Which of the Bethlehem
scenes (shepherds, Simeon, Wise men, etc.) would you have loved to have seen?
2) What would have been your
response?
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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