Silent Night

Christmas is in the air.

'Tis the season for Christmas shopping with friends, trees in every window, a free candy cane with every purchase, sledding, snowball fights, a nice peppermint mocha, catching up with relatives you haven't seen since Thanksgiving, and of course a cute little church Christmas pageant.

Not to mention political corruption, a supposed affair, a broken family, dangerous travels, unearthly creatures, and the mass genocide of children.

Christmas wasn't a good time with relatives and presents and good food back in the day. Think about it. Mary's pregnant, her fiance isn't the father, and the community will stone her if they find out she's been unfaithful. Joseph's future wife isn't making a great first impression, especially since she's claiming an angel came to her and that she's carrying the Son of God in her belly.

On top of that, a foreign government is issuing a census of the entire nation, forcing the couple to travel across treacherous terrain full of dangerous wildlife, as well as raiders and bandits. At least they're getting away from the town that's casting judgment on their apparent life choices.

Inconveniently enough, Mary goes into labor as they enter the town of Bethlehem, and because of the census there's nowhere to stay. Joseph ends up cutting a deal to stay in a barn behind someone's house, and while they're there Mary has her baby.

Moments later, some dirty but friendly shepherds show up to see the baby, moments after it's born. I can't imagine the happy couple were thrilled at the time. These shepherds were just sitting around, minding their own business, when suddenly a legion of flaming supernatural creatures appeared in the sky and told them to seek a baby born in a manger.

Now on top of all that, a jealous king has decided to hunt down and kill any male child aged 2 and under in an effort to eliminate the threat of a new king rising up from the Jewish people. Now the little family has to flee on yet another perilous journey across the border and away from the mad king.

And yet we try to make Christmas into a pretty little scene with a happy baby, doting parents, clean shepherds with adorable little lambs, and fat little cherubs with halos.

Christmas isn't about how cute baby Jesus was. It's not about shopping, giving gifts, or seeing relatives. It's about God taking on flesh and moving into our neighborhood. And let's be honest, our neighborhood isn't the most friendly.

Song for today: Oh Holy Night, with a little twist. It's a haunting, eerie version of the song that I think is a more accurate reflection of the first Christmas. I can tell you one thing: it sure as heck wasn't no silent night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgiyzhtY4B0&feature=youtu.be

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.