Today in our Advent Writing Topics, we tackle – Nativity. I don’t know if you are familiar with the topic or concept of “nativity,” but I use it to refer to any figure set that references the manger or depicts the scene at the birth of Christ. Some include just his parents, add an angel, involve the shepherds, wise men, and a few stray animals. Some are made of raw materials like wood, straw, or even hay. Others are more realistic and some symbolize the people involved. Some have faces with immaculate detail and others are faceless with mystery involved. Different countries depict portions and details differently and others are kid friendly where they can identify and interact with the characters.
All are meant for one purpose – connecting us to the Christ child. And, causing us to pause and reflect on the real meaning of why we celebrate the Christmas season.
Who is your favorite character at the manger? Who can you most identify with? Who do you wish you were more like? What’s your connection?
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Infant holy, Infant lowly, Christ the babe is born today.
I love to put out my nativity scene. Even in years I don’t put up a tree, I always up my nativity scene. This year we have a new nativity set for little man that is rubber and I think his chubby little hands will be able to hold the animals and interact with them. I can’t wait to start telling him the story of Jesus using this little manger set.
My favorite piece of Christmas decoration is the nativity set I have from Dayspring. I LOVE it. Each “character” has a word on its cloak and I love how the word perfectly depicts where I think that person fits into the manger scene. That’s what I think I like most about a nativity set. I’m such a visual person, especially when it comes to reading scripture. I like to imagine the characters in the story as real people. Maybe I read it a little bit like I would if I were a detective or news reporter.
I often wonder what each of these characters was thinking while they witnessed the greatest gift of all. How did the scene unfold? Do I really think I can image fear or trembling like they were really experiencing? And, did they recognize that the Savior of the world, the long-awaited Messiah was coming; arriving in their tiny little town? I’m going to go ahead and give my answer – survey says, NO. Clearly, they didn’t know or there would have been some trumpets, fancy glitter banners, and a lot more fanfare. But, that’s just the way Jesus wanted it. He came in a common place, in a common way. It was, from the beginning, His way of connecting with humankind; becoming like them and yet still being set apart.
Emmanuel – God with us
I’ve said before that baby Jesus is really all we need to make a manger/ nativity scene. I’ve had different sets over the years that were missing lots of characters. I’ve commented that we just needed a Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. But, really all we need is Jesus. That’s true in so many ways. It’s the whole reason we celebrate Christmas. Its the center of our scene. But, I do often wonder when I look at the nativity if we are a little like Bethlehem. Do we recognize the Savior only when He triumphantly rides through our town or can we see him in the humility of a scared mama and her scared husband just trying to be obedient? While I personally don’t think the manger scene was in “some barn out back.” I do think the animal stall was real and I think it was an unkempt place where a few farming type animals were resting for the evening and got a front row glimpse and the first sight of the Savior. I think it was messy. I think it was stinky. I think it was simple and scary and yet probably peace like none can fathom. The Savior of the world had been born.
Mary – cherish
I cannot imagine the fear in Mary’s heart. As a woman, I know she must have struggled to wonder what people would think about her. What were the women in her village saying about her behind her back? Were her parent’s embarrassed (we never hear much about them)? How much pressure was it to carry the promised Messiah? How much pressure was it to raise the Savior? I can only imagine that he was like any other little boy. Did he have to learn hot and cold? Right and wrong? How many times did she have to say, “no, no Jesus” as he learned to crawl and pull up? How did he interact with his siblings? We know the pressure of a mom for being the mom of a President, or a coach, or a Business Leader. But, her son was the King of Kings. And, she had to share Him knowing that His life from the beginning was a sacrifice of epic proportions.
Joseph – love
Only love could let you love a woman when everything in your law said not to. Only love would compel you to obedience and demand the kind of protection Joseph had to provide his family. Only love would drive persistence from the core of your being. Only love would let the pressures of the world around you roll off and not cause you to stumble. Only love would let your Son follow His purpose and fulfill His full life’s calling. Joseph had everything laid out in front of him to run, to disgrace Mary and the whole plan would have had a different turn. But, he was obedient. God softened his heart and he knew his obedience would be part of God’s big plan. Its one thing to be the dad to any ole kid. Its a whole nother thing to be the dad to Jesus and say yes when the assignment was dished out. I’m pretty sure I would have yelled, “syke” and gone back to get in line. Not Joseph.
Shepherd – seek, find
A quick definition search of “seek” leads you to – “to go in search or quest for something”. I love that the other word you find next to the shepherd is “find”. It’s the purpose of seeking. And, I love to think of the reward that the shepherds found that starry night. Can you imagine leaving a hillside probably covered with grass and mud from the days out wandering and find yourself belly up to the manger? To the trough that held the Messiah, the promised baby. And, then to spend your days telling the story that few would believe. I mean really, a bunch of blonde chicks in white fluffy robes with big wings just showed up in the sky out of nowhere and started singing and you listened to them and found who in a what? But, their seeking led to finding. A sheer sense of accomplishment in a life so marked by wonder.
Wiseman – worship, give, follow
I’ve talked before about my thoughts on the wise menThe 3 wise guys, as they are some times referred to (although there was more like an entourage), chose to follow the star. Not just one night, but several. They recognized that something was different about that night and did not stop until they found the baby. They were also well enough aware to come prepared with gifts. They showed up with something to offer. They came prepared to worship the King; Emmanuel. And, that’s a question I ask myself. Am I always prepared to worship. Do I come with my gifts in hand ready to lay at the feet of the King Jesus? I think not. But, I’m challenged.
The donkey – carry
My dad wrote a song when I was little called “Dudley the Donkey”. Not sure why Dudley. Its an Old English name from a root word for wood, clearing or meadow. Some even say it means “the people’s field”. Maybe it is appropriate. A donkey seems about right. It was ordinary. Its what they could afford. It was a useful animal and probably readily available when they knew it was time to travel. Have you ever tried to ride a donkey? I can’t say I’m an expert since I’ve only ridden one bareback to play a donkey basketball game. But since all mine did was stand there, I can assure you it is nothing comfortable. Its back bone sticks out and it makes for one bumpy experience. I cannot imagine how Mary made that journey pregnant. I do love that it was a donkey. It wasn’t a Clydesdale, Black Stallion, or beautiful white sleigh horse. It was a donkey. A wiry, grey, dirty, field donkey. Ordinary in all forms.
barn animals – open
I love to think about these guys. If you’ve ever been in a field or around farm animals, you know they are curious creatures. I love how nativity scenes always depict these guys just calmly laying around. But, I have a feeling that’s not at all how it went down. I fell very sure that Joseph got to the stables and had to rough house a couple of cows, goats, and sheep to find a place to put Mary. I have a feeling he had to gather up some hay that was laying on the bottom of the stable. Not good hay or straw that was perfectly bound in bale or wheel form, but some that had been around for a while. I feel like there were some feed bags and other random items laying around that he built up to make a comfortable place for Mary. This stable was home to these animals. I’m sure they had a routine. I’m sure they had been in the field all day and wanted to just lay down and sleep. Instead, their home was invaded. They were moved out of their comfortable spot and there among the screaming and the tears, the moans and the cries, a baby was born. I can only imagine that curious little noses were pushing their way into the manger. Their feed trough had been taken over after all. Wonder what I would do if something like that wanted to invade my world. Would I be grumpy or disgruntled to find an invader in my place? Would I be curous enough to peek in? Would I just go find a new place and miss the miracle? I’m kinda afraid to answer.
angel – available
And then, this sweet angel face. The proclamation of “good news”. The bringer of “glad tiding”. The spreader of “great joy”. I’m sure there is not much choice when you are an angel and given an assignment. But, I feel like it doesn’t matter. When you are in heaven,I can only believe that you want to tell everyone you can about what you are experiencing. But, I’m challenged today to think about what my words and life proclaim. Do I spread the news every where I go? How would I react if given some of the challenges like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds faced? I believe today we find angels in lots of different ways and I know that they speak truth into our lives. May we live differently based on the knowledge of their words. And, when given the assignment, may we speak up and proclaim.
This great little book is something I’m using to draw me into some quiet moments of reflection and peace this holiday. I highly recommend it as an awesome tool for advent. “Reflections” is the perfect word for my heart today. It has challenged me to look at each piece of the Nativity puzzle and ponder it. And, stop and look again each time I pass. I want to see the expression on each face and ponder, wonder, and ascertain “why.”
So, I pose the same questions again:
Who is your favorite character at the manger? Who can you most identify with? Who do you wish you were more like? What’s your connection?
- December 1 – What is Advent
- December 2 – Nativity
- December 3 – Lights
- December 4 – Fruitcake
- December 5 – Ornaments
- December 6 – Cards
- December 7 – Smell
- December 8 – Office Party
- December 9 – Gift Exchange
- December 10 – Family Pictures
- December 11 – Stocking Stuffers
- December 12 – Party Food
- December 13 – Favorite Tradition
- December 14 – It’s Christmas when…
- December 15 – Christmas Wear
- December 16 – Christmas Cookie
- December 17 – Christmas Carol/Music
- December 18 – Christmas Charity
- December 19 – Community Traditions
- December 20 – Bah-Humbug
- December 21 – Grown-up Christmas List
- December 22 – Elf on the Shelf
- December 23 – Nostalgia
- December 24 – Christmas Eve
- December 25 – Christmas Day – How will you spend the big day – where will you be? Who will you be with? What’s on your mind?
- December 26 – Dreams for the Year Ahead
I love Nativity scenes too.
I love nativity scenes and this one is precious.
So sweet! I love that each of the characters has a word, too. My big nativity is in the attic and I WILL be getting it out for Christmas 2013! It is the Willow Tree nativity and I love it because Mary is *holding* Jesus – I think that's so tender. I missed seeing it this year (couldn't convince DH to get it out of the attic)