Finding the lost!

On a cloudy day, the garden without the usual flight movements of birds, was without its usual flair f the morning. As I looked at the tall trees to find any bird, I noticed a sunbird perched on the summit of a tree. The bird calls were not forthcoming. 

I noticed the dried leaves and bare stem and the  branches on the top of the nutmeg tree. A tree too has its symbol of being alive and flourishing. It resides in the central stem. Any further growth is arrested when the central stem is dry. Some trees over a period of time would give shoots from below the dried stem to continue its growth. But usually such a tree lives reduced of its normal growth momentum, till it is attended to and the new shoots emerge. 

A day before we formally remember the birth of Jesus according to the Christian Calendar and  attend services of worship and Eucharist, I  wondered whether we have lost something cardinal, while pursuing the peripheral matters related to the celebration of Christmas! 

I was observing a newspaper that I was used to reading from my childhood. This news paper during my childhood, used to have a series of articles, reflections, stories of families and children remembering Christmas or news about activities in the community on sharing and caring during the Christmas season. Fifty years later, this news paper for a month now had regular supplements and front page advertisements about consumer items, vehicles, festivities in hotels and restaurants, reduction sales in super market, and  news about sales of crib, Christmas tree, costumes for Christmas father, cakes and Christmas cheer. I wondered how the story of birth of Jesus and the message He brought through His birth and life, got marginalised and reduced of its significance. It is subsumed in the existential and commercial flavour associated with Christmas. 

The tree above is still alive but its life is at stake with the withering of its growing stem and its branches on the top. 

All the commercial festivities associated with Christmas are thriving, but the seminal and cardinal truth about the person of Jesus of Nazareth has got buried in all the peripheral events associated with Christmas. 

We, amidst all the other pleasantries associated with Christmas, by default or oversight can miss the person and message of Christmas. 

What does the dried stem represent metaphorically! The life of the tree is threatened by the dying stem!

When the person and His message, central to the occasion of Christmas is inapparent or concealed or marginalised, then it is a sign of losing what ought to have been a treasure!

Love, Peace and goodwill for all mankind, represent the heart of Christmas. This Christmas message is getting displaced by all the glamour associated with the commercial manifestations of the Christmas season. 

A community of few families not far from us, decided to visit one family each day to sing carols and share the happy occasion in an informal way. The families whom they chose to visit were people in difficult circumstances. I was moved how adults and children made an effort to bring love, peace and goodwill to some people in their neighbourhood. 

When the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, Nehemiah told his people, 'Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him, who has nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength' (Nehemiah.8:10).

The Christmas season is such an occasion, when the joy Jesus brought at His birth, is shared with others to bring hope!

We had a visit from two friends yesterday, and that was a gift of love and hope to us. Yesterday, I sent messages of greetings to many people whom I normally do not include in the greeting list. I was surprised to receive instant responses of delight. I thought of some senior citizens with whom I did not have regular contact. One of them telephoned back to recall the earlier days of regular contact. What a joyful occasion to remember each other and long years of association. 

It is in giving, we are expressive of the message of Christmas.

In a parable of Jesus of Nazareth, a woman who lost one coin out of ten searched in her house till she found it. What is lost can be found when we feel moved to restore it. 

The shepherds had a long  journey toke to find Jesus, when He was born. The good news of Jesus is for all mankind! Those waiting for the good news are our neighbours and others waiting to tell their story. 

The mechanic who came to mend our water pump, told me his story of illness,  loss of his regular job, recent heart surgery, family events and his experience of association with my parents for about 20 years. At the end of it, he told me, 'It is a long time since I recollected all that happened to me for the last thirty years. I feel lighter now'! I felt good that I was his companion for that two hours to help him recall his story and feel lighter. It is rather strange that this happened on the Christmas Day. I lent my time to listen while he repaired the pump. A good experience of giving and receiving!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)