Earthy
Humility
“The
lowly manger could remind us that one of the main themes of Jesus's
teaching is genuine humility: the willingness to be vulnerable, not
in control and open to influence.”
Thomas
Moore (The Soul of Christmas)
I seem to be stuck in the
stable in the run up to Christmas this year. I can't pull myself away
from that bucolic scene of Mary, Joseph and the baby surrounded by
farm animals and shepherds. That was a peaceful, humble and adoring
beginning for a baby boy who was destined to change the world.
Perhaps it was a reminder to him in later years about his roots—I
can just hear some of the folks around here saying, “Remember where
you came from, boy.” In other words, don't get full of yourself. He
was born in peace, and that is what he taught. Be at peace, my peace
I give to you, do not be afraid—were among his major teachings.
The manger is a reminder
to us to stay humble and vulnerable, too. As an artist, I have to
remain in that state of expectation, without knowing where it will
lead. I have to be open to direction that does not come from my left
cerebral hemisphere. As soon as I decide to take control of what
happens, the piece I'm working on becomes stilted and stale. I have
the feeling that Jesus, as rabbi, didn't plan his sermons ahead of
time; he didn't carefully construct his message so as to repeat the
theme three time. I imagine that he knew scripture by heart, having
memorized it in his village synagogue, and that he had pondered its
meaning since childhood. So when he began to teach, he spoke from his
own understanding, and not in a conventional way. He was an open
vessel with a loving spirit; he spoke the words as they occurred to
him.
The manger is a symbol of
humility for the purpose of this story. But in reality, it is a
lifeline for the animals who live in the barn. That is where they
receive their sustenance, where they are fed. If you have an animal
of any sort, you know that meal time is the central moment of their
day. Liza leaps around and throws her toys into the air when she
knows it's time to eat—she literally does her “happy dance.” I
once had the joy and horror of pouring slops into a pig trough—what
a spectacular display of eating frenzy that was! So, having Jesus
laid in a manger may have been the precursor to his becoming “the
bread of life.” This is my body given to you—this is my blood. He
became spiritual food for his followers.
Putting those ideas
together, we find that humility is food for the soul. Openness,
vulnerability, the willingness to not be in control, are necessary
for spirit to guide us. They are the most difficult practices of all.
When you're struggling with them, think of the manger, and notice the
peace it brings.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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