Stay Out of Bethlehem
An Advent Calendar Story
Day 18
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
On December 22nd, Merry called. “Mom, I’ll be home by 3:00 on Christmas Eve for my birthday dinner and then we can walk to church together. Hurry will meet us there. I haven’t told him about your sermon, so it will be a big surprise!”
Celia hung up. It will be a big surprise for everyone since it still wasn’t written. Celia imagined herself in the pulpit, gazing at a full, candlelit church, looking down at blank pages. She remembered an old joke her father had told about a priest, a rabbi, and a minister out fishing on a lake. They were discussing their sermon writing habits. The priest said, “I start my sermon on Sunday afternoon for the next week. I work on it all week.” The rabbi said, “I start on Wednesday afternoon so I will be ready for the Friday service.” The minister said, “Well, I usually schedule a long hymn right before the sermon …”
Which carol has the most verses? Celia wondered.
Cradling her face in her hands, Celia looked down at Mistle who was curled up at her feet. “What story do you think I should tell? Was there a cat at the manger?”
Scribbled notes of ideas that had stalled at the starting gate littered Celia’s desk. The race was about to begin and Celia’s story was nowhere to be found. This was the worst case of writer’s block she had ever suffered. She never could have delivered a story in time for the newsletter. Tamara, the church secretary, had included a glowing advertisement for Celia’s “inspiring Christmas story,” in the letter which arrived yesterday.
Taking a deep breath, Celia steeled herself. There had to be a story in her fingers. They had never failed her before. Blowing on them for good luck, she tapped at her computer keys. A single sentence emerged: Stay out of Bethlehem.
Advent Challenge: Do you have everything ready for Christmas? Have the gifts been wrapped, the cards sent, the cookies baked, the tree decorated? So many of the preparations we make for Christmas are external. Today, focus on your internal preparations. Sing a few carols. Reflect on the stories they tell. Consider the love of God who sent his son to save us. Then, joyfully adore him.
Prayer: Child, for us sinners, poor and in the manger, we would embrace Thee, with love and awe. Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly? Lord, while we were yet sinners, you came to save us. Forgive us our sins. We come to adore you, Christ, the Lord. Amen
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