Ever since the first Christmas, there have been several editions and versions of the Nativity story. However, it’s sobering to note that gradually, the essence of the season is being equalled to how ‘christmasy’ christmas turns out to be!
A few evenings ago, I was seated in the audience of a small auditorium to witness the production of a play titled The Nativity with a Difference. Truth is, initially, i was a bit skeptical about going b’cos i felt there couldn’t be a new twist to the story of the birth of Christ, so why freeze out there all in the name of going to see a play?? Couldn’t be any more wrong!
The set reflected a well structured plot with Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus seated in the centre stage on a stack of hay, a representation of the manger where Jesus was born, even had sheep bleating and manger boyz on stage.
Enter director.
Camera! Lights! 3, 2, 1 cut!
Enter 3 wise men.
quietly, each presented his gift (gold, frankincense & myrrh) as they all fell down in worship.
Cut!! A furious director screamed, that’s not lively!! as he managed to put a call through to a supposed modern day event manager. In a few seconds, his face lit up with smiles as he seemed to have got a bright idea, a more christmasy idea of the role of the 3 wise men. and so, he hurriedly ordered for a repeat performance no longer as the three wisemen but as three party divas with their gifts aptly packaged to suit the re-engineered plot, an 18c designer gold wrist watch, a box of top brand fragrance and a complementing bottle of designer perfume!
At every stage, there seemed to be one more thing that needed a substitute as the succeeding scene always fell short of the preceeding (according to world standards). He never failed to employ his mobile phone, came in so handy.
The hay stack was cleaned up so we could have baby Jesus in a more relaxed and baby friendly environment, definitely not a manger! Same thing for the shepherds who watched the flock, they couldn’t remain in their old dirty robes, c’mon! and so they turned up in their tuxedos and swung into the party mood. How dare we forget Mary and Joseph? parents of the day!! All along, they sat watching the whole scene change from the ‘little’ to the ‘funky’ town of Bethlehem. Now they weren’t going to take it anymore! All the other actors and actresses had taken their turns in looking beautiful and trendy and it wasn’t going to do their reputations much good sitting pretty still and so they hopped out of stage…
so much chaos and confusion as the director seemed to be at a loss on what crossed everybody’s minds. Not for long though, as he seemed to have succeeded in staging the nativity with a touch of class and had kept every member of the audience at the edge of his/her seat. Turning around, he saw the baby! Owmigod! what’s he doing there? he doesn’t belong here anymore! Can someone please get the baby out of the way!!
Freeze!!!
did he mean, get Jesus out of the way? but it was meant to be ALL about him in the first place! how did we lose focus? how did we manage to get every other thing ahead of him?
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9.6
Celebrate with the celebrant!
Merry Christmas.
