What Do You See?

What Do You See?

What do you see?

This small piece of wood spends much of its time tucked away in

a cupboard.

I have the same routine every year. 

About a week before Christmas I lift it from its hiding place and put it on display, usually on a small table in the main hall at home.

For me, that’s about enough Christmas decoration; a small reminder of the Holy Family, to help me think about ‘The Nativity Of Our Lord.’

It’s a piece I bought some years ago in Bethlehem. I was very moved to meet Christians there who trace their ancestry to the times of Jesus. They are very much Palestinians, and as such are today a very tiny minority within a minority, themselves a minority within Israel.

The visit involved armed guard checks, passing through 40 or 50 feet high concrete security walls, stories of families separated from each other because of the regulations of the governing authorities.

In some ways their situation is pitiful. One guide, a Christian, would only speak about her situation when on the travel coach, with doors closed, so wary she was of being overheard.

Bethlehem is made famous of course by one special visitor. Today a vast building stands over the place where it is believed the shepherds visited the Christ Child, and his parents. It is undoubtedly moving to visit, cynic that I am, knowing that there is every chance Jesus was born somewhere else, yet moved at the countless faithful who have come to that very place, to adore.

Christians also make for small numbers in places like Bethany, where some of their church buildings are greatly overshadowed by other religious buildings, built deliberately it would seem, right beside and onto their boundary walls. But they carry on in their witness, in spite and perhaps because of the difficulties they face.

I remember meeting Hannah, in Nazareth, and her tears as she recalled living a life away from Jesus, until she was converted in her young adulthood, and now works hard at finding evangelical fellowship in the land of Jesus.

I did the usual thing of buying some tourist souvenirs, albeit I was there as a pilgrim. I still have the laminated Birds Of The Holy Land poster, and the small blue and white kippah. But it is the small olivewood figures which remain current, at least once every year. 

But, for the first time, this year, I noticed that it is not Joseph and Mary en route to Bethlehem, or even during their stay in a stable/ manger/ inn or 


St Elsewhere. In fact, the figures represent their ‘Flight To Egypt.’

For the first time, this year, 

I noticed their blank faces, and wondered what feelings and emotions they had as they fled from the little town of Bethlehem. Fleeing, perhaps some years after the birth of Jesus, because of the threats from the ruling authority.

Did they wonder where they might live. How would they pay their way. Or were they a model household, reassured in God’s provision in every situation.

 Idealising the Holy Family isn’t helpful to us today.

Mary is told by Simeon that a sword of sorrow would piece her own soul. We cannot know what she pondered in her heart as she watched their promised child grow towards His destined work. Nor of the pain she endured as she stood looking on in anguish at her Son on the cross.

Someone significant once reminded me that ‘nice’ isn’t one of the virtues in the Gospels. Faith isn’t always easy or ‘nice.’  

Holding on to Christian faith and trust in difficult times isn’t nice.

Oftentimes faith is a struggle. It requires effort. It’s about getting up and carrying on, when all else seems to fail. It’s about knowing that someone greater has provided for us, and will carry us through.

Once upon a time, a small child was born in a faraway place.

There was no room for Him in an Inn, or in very much any-where-else, it seems. His parents had to flee for their lives. They took flight, trusting in the One who called them and provided for them in this extraordinary work.

We are undoubtedly living through some of the most difficult days. There is much that might make us fearful or discouraged. These are times when many might give up on their faith.

Our encouragement comes from our brothers and sisters who carry on in the Name of Jesus today, in a difficult place. And we are encouraged by the example of that first family, who gave so much, so that we too, even in difficult times, might come and adore.


Perhaps this year I won't put this little carving back into the cupboard. Perhaps it will stay on my desk, to remind me of the God who provides for His Family, in every situation.

 May God bless you in these days.

Precentor Hanlon

 

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