Pondering the Christmas Mystery

Happenings in my life have proven, at least to my satisfaction, that Christmas is truly, as the song says, “the mast wonderful of the year.” Pm not thinking of it inst as a time of great prosperity of the sort the ad men drum up, but as a time when God touches people‘s lives to remind them that He takes the birthday of His “only begotten son” seriously. And that Christ's birthday is, above all others, the one most worthy of celebration.

I recall a pre-Christmas party we threw for a group of SSS faculty cohorts and friends back in the late 70's. It was a “help the hostess” party of my own invention: byob and something good to eat. The idea was to save our working wives the extra burden of preparing for a bunch of guests. These were usually held on Fridays and always at the drop of a hat. No sweat for the hostess, and much fun for the 98118- At this memorable gala, there was much animated sharing, political haggling, intemperate imbibing, and even some nut emoting Shakespearean soliloquies and later the singing of carols. At most such parties guests began to totter out for home by around 1:00, but this night it took until nearly two to clue the stragglers into leaving.

But then there came a knock at the door and Joe McCurnin our Econ. Teacher and ex helicopter rescue veteran and hero of the Viet Nam War, poked his head in the door. “Gene, you gotta come out and see this!” “Well, why not?” I threw a coat on and followed Joe out into the street. “Listen.” he said. “To what‘?” l answered. “Nothing, listen!” Then it hit me. It was an absolutely SILENT night. Huge, fluffy snowflakes drifted and spiraled down in the glow of the street light. We both just stood there spell-bound, sensing a Hush so profound that neither of us could say a thing. We both stood here for a long time, then Joe whispered,”I thought you'd dig this being a poetry guy and all.”Then we each tumed and silently went our separate ways.

That night brought to mind another night of similar holiness. it was a Christrnas eve, and all the Pinkney kids had pieces to say or parts to play at the program at the F airmount Methodist Church. I was always a wise man; Charles, a shepherd, and Mary Ellen one of the “little kids.” Alter the program, walking home through the snow- swaddled streets of our little home town, I felt like I was re-living the poetic words of that beautiful carol --”yet in thy dark streets shineth the ever-lasting light. How still we see thee lie. as in thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.‘ A similar atmosphere is created in the play, Hamlet by one of the castle guards just after the ghost vanishes “at the crowing of the cocks” “Some say that ever ‘gainst that season comes / Wherein our Savior's birth is celebrated / The bird of dawning singeth all night long/ And then they say no spirit dare stir abroad / The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike / No fairy takes nor witch has power to charm / So hallow‘d and so gracious is the time”

I can think of some other times when I've sensed that awesome Presence; a candle light service at Bethel Lutheran Church, at several of the Concordia Choir Christmas concerts, also my sister-in-law’s funeral conducted by Father Dale Lagondinski. His little eulogy was amazingly powerful as was the beautiful soprano solo which was absolutely sublime. Another powerful line from one of Shakespeare; tragedies came to mind: “See High Order in this great solemnity.”

Nor can I omit the many Christmas eve services we used to attend at the little Assembly of God church on the south-east corner of town, simply singing the old classic carols, hearing the reading of the nativity story from the book of Luke, or hearing simple, spontaneous testimonies about good things God had done in one's life Sometimes during praise and worship the Presence of the Lord became so weighty it was hard to stay standing; then a hush would come where not a sound could be heard-—-not a cough, not a baby's cry , pure pregnant Silence, and they would sing, “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This place...

“So Hallow'd and so Gracious were those times.” Now, during these troubled and tumultuous times, we need more than ever to “gather together to seek the Lord's Blessing” and to feel His tender loving kindness toward us, “the children of men.” He is not the hateful, vengeful deity the unbelievers claim He is. Anyone who has experienced His presence knows there is not an ominous note in it.

The parable of the lost sheep says it all. Our Good Shepherd would instantly leave the whole flock(those already saved) to seek and save that one wayward lost sheep. And all that sheep has to do te he saved is to allow himself to he carried rm those same scarred shoulders that bore the rugged cross up Golgotha hill. People need to come together not just at Christmas, but weekly at least, for as Jesus says,”Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I AM in the midst of them,” and “Where the Spirit of the Lord is; there is LIBERTY Let's let that statue in the harbor mean something ringing tme for all who inhabit this great God-Founded land where we are told to Love OneAnother.”

Gene Pinkney 12/ 22/ 19 uploaded January 8, 2020