No
Room
“In the
lives of all of us, usually there comes a day when the world says,
'there is no room in the inn.'”
Thomas
Moore (The Soul of Christmas, p.37)
“No room in the
inn”—such a familiar phrase for people around the world. In every
Christian church these words will be read this month. Children will
reenact the story of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem for the
census count, Mary heavy with child. They will never find room in the
inn. They will always have to go to the cow-shed to have their baby.
Rarely do we apply this
story to our own experience, but it happens with great regularity. We
apply for a job we desperately want, go for an interview, but are not
hired. We submit a manuscript for publication only to have it
rejected. We marry someone we love madly, and they leave us for
another. We lose a baby to miscarriage. These are “no room”
moments. We feel turned away, unappreciated, rejected, inadequate. We
find ourselves alone in a cold, dark place. Have you ever had one of
those moments?
We also create “no
room” moments for others. It happens when we choose not to be in
relationship with them, perhaps to move on to greener pastures. Or,
we may stay in a relationship, but constantly complain and criticize
them. We leave jobs and coworkers, and don't look back. We say and do
things that wound without even being aware of what we're saying and
doing. And sometimes, we're intentional in our wounding.
Here's the wonderful
thing about cow-shed moments—after the darkness and rejection, a
star rises to shine light on new life. We change directions, we begin
anew, we find an entirely new way of living and being in the world.
We create new things. We recreate ourselves. The life-force pushes us
up and out. Lots of good stuff comes out of barns, believe me.
This year, when you hear
the story of baby Jesus born in the cow-shed, and laid in a feed-trouth,
try not to feel sad for him. It's part of life to have these moments.
They're almost always turning points, as was his birth. It was his
very humble roots, his vulnerable nature, that started him on a
path of service and drew thousands to follow him. His star rose right then and there. What about your
star? Is it rising this Christmas?
In the Spirit,
Jane
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