Thinking Outside The "Stable"

Several years ago around Christmas I learned a lesson from a four-year old little boy in my Mother’s Day Out class that taught me to think outside the “stable.” On this day in particular the kids were very excited about “The Baby Jesus” play we do in our classroom every year. The production is quite entertaining as it is produced and directed by the kids themselves with no help from the teachers, except for narrating the story. The kids cast themselves and create their own costumes using a box of supplies that have some obvious costumes and some simple squares of cloth that always get made into very “unusual” accessories. Because this is a “kids only” production, there are many years we have no Mary and Joseph but tons of angels and animals. There is usually a fight over who gets to be the baby Jesus and no one ever wants to be the Wiseman because they don’t come in until the very end. As the kids were setting the stage a little boy named Christopher came over and announced that he was going to be “God” in this year’s production.

“Christopher,” I said, “You can’t be God. God was not at the stable,” I tried to explain.

“Oh yes He was, Ms. Brittney. God is everywhere!” Christopher insisted.

The perfectionist that I am, I wanted all of the characters to be accurately represented in the play because I thought it would help the kids understand the story better. I tried to explain to Christopher about the “significant” characters in the Christmas story putting an extra emphasis on the Wisemen because that part had not been taken yet. But Christopher wasn’t budging, not even a little. In my final attempt to change his mind I looked at him with frustration and said, “OK, Christopher. You can be God, but how are you going to know when to come out onto the stage and play your part? The story doesn’t mention when God comes in.”

“Umm, Ms. Brittney,” he said, “God never leaves. I’m going to stand there the whole time!”

And he did!

Through an imperfect portrayal of the Christmas Story, God taught me that many times we let the distractions in our life keep us from seeing and feeling His presence. Christopher taught me to never doubt God’s presence in my life even when I can’t see him…and even when the story doesn’t tell me He is there.

As Christmas approaches and the year is winding down each of us are going to be handed a multitude of distractions that will distort the presence of God in our life. There will be gifts to be bought, goodies that must be baked, sales that can’t be missed, and parties that must be attended. But in the midst of all this holiday craziness I hope each of you will take time and seek out the lesson God has for you this Christmas season. Could it be that God wants you to think outside the “stable” and look for Him in places you normally don’t see Him? Maybe you’ll find God this year through the story of the check-out lady at Wal-Mart who you usually don’t speak to, or maybe God will be in the eyes of a homeless man on the street corner who you drive by without noticing …or maybe, like me….you will find God in the persistence of a child who insists God IS a character at the nativity scene even though the picture in the book says otherwise!

Have a Merry Christmas and look for HIM in all you do this holiday season!