written by Stephan Joubert
The Rapampam pam of “Little drummer boy” can be heard almost everywhere at the moment. It tells the story of a boy who wants to play the drums at his best for the Child in the manger. The arrival of Jesus indeed calls for festivity. That’s also what the wise men realized when they saw his star. Their gold, incense, and myrrh tells of the arrival of the Child of Peace amongst us. But the coming of Jesus is about more than just presents. It’s about us becoming living presents. Just as Jesus came to give Himself away without any preconditions, He’s turned us into presents to everyone around us.
But there’s more about the coming of Jesus that we need to realize… if we only stand in awe at his manger, we haven’t yet walked far enough. Gordon Wakefield writes that there can never be a hint of Christianity without a cross — the cross of Christ that we bear, and each of us bearing our own cross! From the manger to the cross, from Bethlehem to Calvary, and from there all the way to my own life — that’s the nutshell story of faith. If I become part of Jesus’ story in faith, then it turns me into someone crucified and cross-bearing in the same instant. The story of Jesus tells that my life starts over from square one. At the manger, the cross ánd the empty grave I find my new identity. From there I find daily direction for my life. Jesus is my only Compass. His arrival is the main reason for my existence. That’s why I can tap my drum for Him today, even while there’s a heavy cross resting on my shoulder.
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It seems that one can’t make it through the festive season without hearing a few complaints about the commercialization of Christmas. As far back as I can remember some of the religious has gone on about this. Does the complaining help reduce the misuse of Christmas? I doubt it. Will the exploitation of Christmas suddenly stop because the some churchgoers are opposing it? Probably not! Maybe another solution? What about a more personal one? Meaning, you and I that honor Christ as our Lord should wear a different festival-costume this festive season. Our festivities should tell of the Child in the crypt that brought down a new kind of peace among us. Our words, but especially our deeds of compassion towards those who will not have festival-food or nice presents, should tell of our Lord’s heavenly generosity. Then the festival in our area looks way different. Then we decorate that little piece of world inside which we live, work and play with the right kind of joy. Then we don’t have to sing with in the choir of faultfinders, criticizers, and protesters that never do anything but that.
Eli Wiesel tells the story of his visit to a Jewish community in the old communistic Moscow. During a religious feast, some of them openly danced in the streets. When he asked why they danced, a woman answered: “All year I live in fear. But once a year, on this day, I refuse to be afraid. Then I’m a Jew and and I dance in the streets!”