Obvious or Obscure !

 

The resident birds in our garden often are noticeable in prominent stations in our garden at day break. They position themselves in their ore-flight positions by entitlement. 

There are other birds who are only visitors in the garden and occupy obscure position in order to be safe and not chased by birds who have claimed their territorial rights. 

I come across these two groups of birds in our garden at day break. It opened more understanding about the bird behaviours in our garden. 

To be in obvious locations, visible and advantageous to have a telescopic view of the sights beyond, seemed to be the choice of birds who know the garden well. They their habitual presence in the same station displace other birds from wanting to be in that station. 

This is the order of hierarchy in avian dispensation. Some bir stations ds exercise control or hold to deny other birds the opportunity to have access to the some flight stations. 

The obscure flight station with the pair of Mynahs occupy is hidden and has a protective cover. The palm leaves hide their visibility. They have also the limitation of the views into the distance as the palm leaves block their distant vision. 

The Christmas events at Nazareth carried a certain level of obscurity initially. It soon became obvious to the shepherds, wise men and others  in the region as the news about the birth of the saviour prophesied for generations became a historic reality. In that sense it was celebrated by some and feared by some others.  

The presence of Jesus in Bethlehem created a flutter of activities. For some like the shepherds it was an occasion to spread the glad tidings all over. For the wise men, there was a need to keep the news hushed up as there was a threat to t life of Jesus. 

This is the dual pattern of the biographical sketches of people that we come across in our surroundings. 

One group of people thriving by being known and  another group who stay hidden!

I pondered over this for a while during the day!

We live in a social world where visibility is essential to capture attention. lower middle class or the upper middl

It is in this context the teachings of Jesus that, 'you are the light'; 'you are the salt'; 'a little leaven, leavens the whole lump'  and ' if two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst' bring a contrasting message to the obsessive social pattern to be seen, heard or known. 

The sociological view of life is upward movement. The economists commenting about the financial and social migration of people in India  in the last 25 years, notic place e the upward movement of people from the lowest strata to the lower middle class or the upper middle class. Those who lived in the margins of society are migrating to the visible sphere in the social hierarchy. 

There is another sociological migration taking place concurrently. There aer some who are well placed are becoming more mindful of those who live their lives in an obscure manner at the bottom of the pyramid of our social structure. 

Following the ecological disaster caused by landslide, when people lost lives, property and all that they had to live on in Wayanad have found offer of support widely. Although the government of India is yet to offer a relief package, the voluntary sector is active with relief and rehabilitation initiatives. 

 Himself with the least 

This is what reveals the mindset of our fellow travellers in life. The governments locally and nationally have been slow and inadequate IN their responses; the civil society has been active to take more initiatives. 

A church built houses for those who lived in huts in one area, near to us. Those who remain excluded received attention. 

The obvious in our social pursuit is to secure more visibility for those who claim to be entitled; those who live their obscure lives continue to do so, until the Good Samaritans appear to lead them on!

The Christ of Christmas in that sense began His earthly life identifying Himself as one among them least. He came to 'serve and not to be served'. The little that He had access to at birth, a manger, symbolised the heart of His mission. The shepherds, being one of the firsts to receive the message of His birth, became identified with the mission of the birth of Jesus. 

The light dispels darkness. The light Jesus brings into our lives is to see the obscure and the hidden people, who are around us. The prophet Nehemiah, appealed to those who assembled to celebrate the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, '..send portions to him, who has nothing prepared..'(Neh 8:10). 

In the Messianic calling, that Jesus came to fulfil, '..To bring good news to the afflicted .. to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners..' (Isa 61:1), there is a message of invocation: remember the obscure among us.

The Christmas season brings the awareness of the contrast between the  obvious and the obscure dispensations of people living us! 

Taking sides of the obscure among us, is a calling that resonates as the call of Christmas!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)