Suppose the world, generations from now, ends up wondering how this holiday first came about. Children will ask their parents why there’s a star on the top of the tree and what about these strange ornaments of men with wings? Will their parents, with wrinkled brow say, “I really have no idea, it’s more or less just tradition. I did hear once that in all started somewhere in the Middle East. Who knows how it got all the way over here?”
At that point old Uncle Ted speaks up. He’s lived a very long life and is mostly ignored at family gatherings. “Actually” he says, “the real reason for our festive celebration has more to do with economics than anything else. The country needs us to spend a bunch of money. But many years ago my grandfather told me an amazing story. It was a story about a baby of all things. The birth of that special child, according to the story, changed the course of history.”
Little Billy asks, “What was so special about that baby, Uncle Ted?” “Why, if I remember correctly,” he said, “that little boy was to be the Savior of the world.” Susie responds, “Well that’s ridiculous. What does the world need saving from, space invaders?” “No.” says Billy, “it needs saving from your dumb jokes.” They all laugh and soon forget what the question was.
I’m sure Richard Dawkins, Bill Maher, and their ilk look forward to that day. Let’s just make sure it never comes to that. Christmas is a fact of history not to be relegated to private places and church sanctuaries. By life and lip let us take advantage of every opportunity to remind the world of an actual event that took place two millennia ago, the birth of a child whose life would alter the course of civilization. Merry Christmas!
