Most internationally-acclaimed columnists cannot come up with witty columns every time they write, and I'm no different. Okay, I am different, but in a different sort of way--as you may have observed in these past five years. But somehow, through the medium of current events, family life, and simple raw convictions, I peck on. (That would be peck, as in “peck away at my keyboard.”)
I find that my biggest struggle is often around Christmas time, though I finally I get into some sort of yuletide groove by early December. And that's not because of the political correctness tripe out there: No siree; in fact, said tripe gives added protein to my literary meal. Where I struggle—as I'm sure every church and school concert director does—is in the area of originality, creativity, and well, hooks. (That would be hooks, as in “hooking one's readership in.”)
For instance, how many ways can one describe the wisemen's arrival? The manger scene? Or Mary's awe in hearing she will be the Christ-child's mother? How many ways can you teach the honourable response at Christmas—to a child, or even to a culture? Just how many different carols can you sing, without being too stale?
Speaking of carols, while there are dumpster-loads of goofy ditties, there are a lot of really quality contemporary ones. In addition to the standard classics, like “Silent Night,” I'm thinking of “Mary, Did You Know?” and “Mary's Boy Child.” I would even add: “I'll be Home with Bells On” and “O Beautiful Star.” It may take some work to find them, but they're out there.
Hollywood, not a fan favourite of this fan here, certainly struggles with the same dilemma. That's why they have produced one lame, watered-down movie after another. Whether the genre is war, law, race, or, in this case, Christmas, they take an obvious historical event, butcher it and twist the facts, toss in some unnecessary sex, then call it 'performing arts.'
Speaking of obvious, historical events—sans any religious overtones—I find I just need to sit back and muse on the various angles that Christmas presents. Then I find there is actually much one could write about at this time of year. And this material often comes in many shapes and sizes, including the shape of a question mark..
So some of the questions are as follows:
One, how many wisemen were there? All of you that said “three” please sit down. Yes, there were three gifts; no, better there were three types of gifts. When one thinks of how far they travelled, it's pretty obvious there were many wisemen, to say nothing of their supporting cast of cooks, guards, groomsmen, etc. I don't think Herod would have been frightened with just three wise guys, er, wisemen standing in front of him.
Two, who were the wisemen, anyway? Try astrologer-kings. They were men who read the stars as well as the Scripture. They were royalty from somewhere close to (or perhaps even part of) what we call Iraq today. That territory has gone through a number of name changes throughout the Bible, including the likes of Mesopotamia, Chaldea, and Babylon.
Three, were the wisemen and the shepherds gathered together in the manger? Well, according to Hallmark cards, yes. However, there is no actual record of that happening. That may have been what you were taught all your life. Please don't go to your Christmas tree and throw the nativity scene out, just because there may be another way to look at things. The shepherds were in the manger with the baby; the wisemen were at the house with the young child. At least that's what the historical account says.
And four, how could a poor carpenter and his young wife afford a trip to Egypt? Well, remember about a few hundred words ago we discussed the gifts from the wealthy wisemen? I wonder (and, I admit, I am speculating at this point) if they were able to fund their trip and their subsequent stay through the liquidation of those gifts from the astrologer-kings.
Personally, I find it easier to defend the notion of wisemen than the nonsense of Santa. One is history, the other is tradition. Basic facts will always trump wishful thinking every time. At this time of year, I'll celebrate a real birth of a real person, and try not to let sentiment take over. I suppose that would make me a very wise man, wouldn't it?
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