It's all about the story

Matthew 1:18

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

The Day of the Nativity Play

There's a buzz in the air

The adults arrive early

intent on snagging the best seats,

the best viewpoint

from which to see their charges re-enact

the greatest story ever told.

The children too seem extra fidgety

They won't stand still

while tea towels are affixed to shepherds

and tinsel to glittery angels

Even the Kings seem electrified

though they are older

and supposedly more jaded

But with their crowns perched atop slicked back hair

and their gifts clutched tightly in their hands

they too seem ruffled by the moment.

Only Mary seems calm and serene.

Although I don't know how, since Joseph is tearing around

pretend fighting with the shepherds

Just as well those staffs are foam and not wood!

Those tea towels are off again!

And who put the camels, the donkey and the sheep

in those ridiculous positions?

Someone has been messing with the manger!

And the baby Jesus is nowhere to be seen.

But it's time to go.

The choir have finished singing.

The angel Gabriel is making her way down the aisle

Oops - Mary was supposed to go first.

Never mind - the Angel's message will be delivered

Mary and Joseph will carry the donkey 

all the way across the chancel to Bethlehem,

The baby will be born.

The angels will tell the shepherds

who will hurry down to Bethlehem.

And the wise men will make an entrance

with their gifts, hopefully not tripping over their curtains

on the way up the chancel steps.

Someone will find the baby Jesus

and place him in the manger

just in time.

And everyone will say

"What a lovely story"

And, in all the cuteness of the re-telling,

maybe, just maybe,

we will glimpse the greatest gift ever given

and see God born in our midst today.

(To be continued)