Christmas: THE STORY

During the month of December, Monday Meditations will be looking at the Christmas Season from unique perspectives.

Live performances are great!  They come in many different genres, whether dramatic or musical.   

For me, I enjoy going to live plays.  These events provide a unique form of entertainment and even escape as I can get lost in stories.  They often have quirky characters that are dramatic or humorous and often present a story that conveys a special message that compels me to ponder a situation.   

Quite a few years ago, my wife and I attended a special performance that had just three or four actors who each played several different roles throughout the presentation.  The only way to tell which role they were playing was by observing which hat they wore on their head at that moment.  They would change a hat and immediately morph into a new character complete with new expressions, demeanour and even accents.  The presentation was high-paced and engaging.  The talent on stage was extraordinary as everyone played their multiple roles without error.  A standing ovation at the end of the evening was the natural response to such an amazing display. 

Q: Do you enjoy live performances?  If so, what type?  What do you enjoy about them? 

So what does this have to do with “Christmas”? 

At this time of year, we often equate Christmas to a season - a standardized length of time that begins approximately four weeks before December 25th and ends around December 26th or so.  During this season we experience many different things that are generally not part of our normal routines throughout the rest of the year.  We will talk about ”Christmas Senses” next week. 

We also think of Christmas as an event; a specific day, or couple of days when we attend special performances for our children, grandchildren and family members.  We sing seasonal songs.  We participate with unique church services that are formatted to acknowledge the season.  These events, when strung together, creates an atmosphere we all attribute as being “Christmas”. 

Above all of this, however, Christmas is a STORY.  Let’s unpack this idea a bit more… 

According to Archway Publishing (Simon & Schuster), “A good story wraps itself around you and whisks you into its world. It lingers in your mind long after it’s over. Its main characters are people you miss when the story is over.”  They also assert that there are five distinct elements that create a good story; the protagonist, an antagonist, an inciting action, a conflict, and a resolution. 

The Christmas story we usually talk about during this time of year generally centres around the “feel-good” parts of the story.   

For instance, we often start the story with the manger scene and baby Jesus being born.  From there, we quickly introduce shepherds and wisemen as they make their way to the manger to pay homage and give gifts to the child.  Our version of the story likely produces images of a cute baby that doesn’t cry (much) and is the best example of a newborn we could ever imagine.  The parents are beaming and proud.  Our soft-version of the story ends with thousands of angels singing Handel’s Messiah in perfect harmonies with an amazing display of glory and lights beaming down from Heaven.  The end.  Let’s eat!

But is that the real story? 

This week, I would encourage you to read the Christmas story slowly.  Look at the characters and see them for exactly who they are and what they are doing or experiencing.  Think about the “not so nice” parts of having to participate in a meaningless census, traveling many miles while fully-pregnant on the back of a donkey, finding no space anywhere, dodging gender-cide (Herod executing baby boys), and feeling the responsibility of caring for the baby in a time of cultural turmoil.  The story contains a lot more than shiny stars and happy caroling. 

You can find the story here:
Matthew 1:18 to 2:23
Luke 1:1 to 2:40 

The Christmas story simply isn’t as happy and fluffy as we often portray it to be.  It does, however, seem to have all the elements of a good story… or does it?   

We know the protagonist would be Jesus.  After all, He is the main character.  There are several antagonists in the story, but Herod would be the main one.  The coming of the Messiah is obviously the inciting action which then creates conflict for the government and spiritual leaders of the day.  But does the story really have resolution? 

Again, quoting Archway Publishing, a good story “… leads to the resolution, or climax—that pivotal point in your narrative that tells the audience who finally wins the conflict.” 

The true Christmas story, in my opinion, contains the first four of the five critical elements but has not yet reached the fifth, which is resolution.  The story has not finished.  The New Testament begins with the story of the birth of Christ, but it doesn’t end there.  

As Christians, we believe a day is coming when we will finally see sin and evil completely conquered, where Satan is judged and sentenced, but that specific “resolution” has not yet happened. 

Q: What is your version/interpretation of the Christmas story?  How does reading the story with  the intention of completely understanding it help change your thinking?

During this Christmas season, take the time to understand the fullness of the Christmas story.  It is indeed a good story with amazing characters and a glorious message.  Don’t settle for the softer version.

My Prayer:

My Heavenly Father, I praise you for your commitment to me.  I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, and for the wonderful Christmas story.  I confess, I have not fully understood the complexity and severity of what happened many years ago.  As a father, the events must have broken your heart.  I pray that during this season I will treat the “story of Jesus’ birth” with all the reverence and respect it deserves.  It is truly an important part of my Christian heritage and part of my identity as a child in your family.  Through your son, Jesus, I pray… amen.

Blessing As Always!

Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
Email: president@corpath.ca

"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"

Special Note:
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Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.