nativity thoughts

Ok, for some time now, I have been searching for the perfect nativity set. I don’t have a place to put a big one, so I don’t have a nice one, but I did get a little one last year at an after Christmas sale. I did put it out on a shelf this year in my new house. I don’t know that I think I found the best spot for it, but it is a spot that everyone sees.

My mom has always had a nativity in our house. The one she had for so long was a set she bought at a school auction when I was elementary. She finally retired it last year and as much as I wanted to hold on to it, there was no way it could survive another year. So, she had two out this year. I just love them.

(and of course there is the angel…I didn’t even go there in this set of thoughts)

One sits on a table in the middle of our living room and another on a side table that you have to walk by to go anywhere in our den. Oh that Christ would always stay at the center. But, here are some thoughts that I have had regarding the nativity this year:

1. At the beginning of the season, we walked into Mardel and they had some sets on sale, so of course they caught my eye. But, as I lingered and looked at the large Willowtree set, I noticed that they called the wooden structure that Mary, Joseph and the baby lay in, a SANCTUARY. What a really neat thought. We always call it a stable and I’ve become accustom to calling it a creche, not really sure where that came from, but I like the word. Our nativity set at home did not always have this wooden structure. Which, is probably more Biblical than having one.

It always makes me sad to think about that night. Mary as uncomfortable as she had ever been in her life and Joseph tired and still confused and worried about what people thought about his decision to be obedient to the Lord, left to deal with their little “issue” out in the open world. Probably, even beyond the stables that we often like to think that the baby Jesus came in to.
But, to think that the place he was born, was a SANCTUARY. I love it! When I looked up the word SANCTUARY, I found these definitions: a sacred or holy place, the part of a church around the altar, and place of refuge, the holiest part of a sacred place, but my favorite was this, a shelter from danger or hardship. I bet the place that Mary and Joseph ended up was just that…a SANCTUARY. While debates continue to exist on whether it was a stable, covered or uncovered, outside, behind, with animals around or not, we do know this, Jesus came that night and everything was changed.

I wonder what His cry sounded like. Did it cause peace, or is it like the cry of other babies that make a mother move? Was he a happy baby or did He come knowing what was ahead of Him? Did Mary and Joseph feel like regular parents or were they heavy in spirit?

2. I have never seen the same “face” on any Shepherd in any set. Sometimes there is just one. Sometimes a couple, one older man and one younger. Sometimes they are holding sheep and sometimes, they are kneeling beside each other. But, it’s always easy to spot them. They are usually off to the side in the rags and with the softest faces. Both of the ones in our house have a young shepherd and are holding a sheep. I could spend all this time going on about the imagery of a shepherd, but I do think it was neat that they angels appeared to shepherd. Probably the only people that evening that would actually pay attention. They had nothing else to do and at the same time, they were available. Oh that I would be available this next year and be invited to witness something as great as the night Jesus came into this world.

3. The cow. Was he really there? He always is at every nativity set I see. Maybe it is some symbol of being in a barn/stable. Not much to say about him, but that he is there, always there, because he is supposed to be?

4. The donkey. Probably as tired as anyone. Where do you put him? One set has him sitting right by Mary. Another set has him on the outer edge, looking out, like a watch dog. I can only imagine that, that night he was as tired as any one. Having walked as far as Joesph, and yet, carrying the weight of a woman who was uncomfortable, I’m sure not still and within days and hours of having a child. I haven’t been around many donkeys in my life. They are however, one of my favorite animals. I’m fascinated by them. Again, not something that a typical person would have chosen to ride, but again, useful, something only the poor would be left to use and yet, a witness to the birth of Jesus. I can just imagine his curiosity that night if he was anywhere around.

5. Then, there are the wise men. Because of obvious reasons, I always struggle with whether they should be there or not. Since they are part of the bigger story, it is good for them to be involved, but I just don’t like them standing so close to the manger. I think they should be off to the side, like they are looking for what’s going on. That’s what they did after all isn’t it? They saw the star and then started their journey. But, it is always great to see them there with their gifts ready to present to the Savior.

(What exactly is the PC color of the wise men?)

6. But, here is always my struggle every year. Where should everyone be placed and which direction should they face? I always think that the center should be the baby. Mary typically is created facing right and Joseph, facing left. From there, I never know. It often is based on how the artist designed each piece. Which direction do the pieces face, are any parts broken off that need to be hidden? Are people standing, kneeling, or leaning? It’s a struggle and I face it every year when I put the nativity out and then when I see them displayed.

(why does Mary always wear pink?)

For the first time this year, I saw a picture of a nativity where everyone is facing “in”, with their backs to the person looking at the scene and facing totally toward the manger. I always see them set up with everyone facing “toward” the manger, but this one was a new thought…really a challenge to me. The figurines in this set conveyed a message…nothing else, but what was inside the manger mattered. They had cut themselves off from any distractions and any possibility to look at anything else. Christ, that was what they were focused on.

That is my prayer for this year. May I keep myself from being distracted and like the shepherd, be in a place to be available to be the one called to be present for something big that God wants to do this year.