The shepherds said to one another, “let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place… — Luke 2:15
This Christmas, Suzy and I will join my daughter, son-in-law, and three of my granddaughters for Christmas eve and day. We will celebrate amongst bright colored packages and bows, shrieks of joy and laughter, smells and tastes of good food, and most importantly hugs and embraces filled with love.
For each of us these next few days God’s manger can be found in the company of each other’s love.
Years ago when I was on sabbatical, the men of my special monastery sought the manger in very different ways. I’d say about half would decorate their space with one or two Christmas cards and perhaps a new picture of their family. (We were allowed only one photograph in our small cubicles.)
The other half wanted nothing to do with decorations, they wished to be alone with their thoughts and memories. “Reminders of Christmas were too painful,” I was told by more than a handful.
The one thing we all had in common was we were not allowed to physically go to a manger at a family home or at a church gathering.
We all had to seek the manger with only our thoughts and hearts. Yet that was sufficient for God.
Wherever your manger is this Christmas, whether it be in the company of laughing children and loved ones, amongst the silence of a hospital or nursing home bed, or in an efficiency apartment, we should seek the manger, where God is.
For when we seek the manger, God will be there to enter our heart and fill it with love.
Merry Christmas One and all!
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