Bethlehem
Luke 2:15-20
“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has made known to us.”
I have a friend, now gone, who used to send a Christmas card every year that ended with, “I hope you make it to Bethlehem this year.” I always heard in those words a mystic invitation to pilgrimage. Rather than chasing one “Christmas” experience after another, I could set out on the road, like Mary and Joseph, like the shepherds, like the Magi, to a place called Bethlehem.
It was not of course the kind of journey that required a plane ticket and luggage. It was a summons to some space deep within, a place in the heart. So that, while most of the world was running up the Christmas escalator, I could descend into a place of joy. Not exactly or always a place of happiness, not a place of achievement or perfection, but a blessed spot on earth where everything is all right, even when everything is, well—complicated!
How do we reach Bethlehem? By walking the path of acceptance, patience and willingness. If we can patiently accept life on its own terms and stop for a moment all our pushing and shoving, twisting and shaping the world according to our will, we just might find we are already there. As ever, it’s the plainest, most ordinary, least “miraculous” place we know of—just like our own lives. Here we find grace—what we might call salvation, but it’s really just a sense, almost comical, that we came all this way to find we were always home.
I hope you make it to Bethlehem this year.
Prayer: Christ who was born in the City of David, let our prayer join with the shepherds’: ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ Amen.
For whatever reason, it usually takes a trek to get home. Thanks, David!
I have only been reading your messages for a short time. They are wonderful, with today’s being even a cut above wonderful, whatever that is. I’m afraid I may go through “withdrawal” when they go back to once a week! I do have a question, which I hope is of general interest and has not been answered recently. What is the source of your drawings? Sometimes they are as moving and thought-provoking as your words.
Thanks, Tom—-my daughter, who works with me on artwork, suggested we use an AI tool this year. So all the artwork is generated by Midjourney Bot. Of course the trick is giving it the right prompts. We’re learning as we go.
I’ve been enjoying the words and images a lot as well! It would be fun to see the prompts you are using as alternative text over the images, or notes at the end of the post.
Dear David, love this reminder to choose that “blessed spot on earth where everything is all right.” Not perfect or even happy but all right. It reminds me of Jacob waking up and hearing “this is the place.”
Thanks for guiding us through Advent–the “coming” of it but also the stopping and staying of it.
I think in some way the spiritual life is recalibrating, every day!, what is good enough and sufficient and beautiful.
As we head into this final week before Christmas, and my beloved husband is having surgery tomorrow, I have found myself racing to do all the tasks on my “to do” list so that all will be well and ready for his return home and some semblance of a holiday. But this made me stop and realize that it wasn’t the right way for me to prepare for what lies ahead. Thank you for slowing me down and making me appreciate the banquet that awaits.
This comes with healing prayers for David, and breath prayers for you. You will be ready for David’s homecoming and for Christmas.
A friend sent me your Bethlehem message, found it lovely and profound. I find Advent to be a wonderfully contemplative time. Please add my email to your list of posts. Would love to read more from you.
Thanks for reading, Mary Ann. I just sent you the link to sign up for email notifications.
I am grateful to my friend MaryAnn for sharing your email with me – Finding Bethlehem, it’s such a beautiful reminder of slowing down this advent season, and making space for the arrival of our precious Lord
Please also add me to your emails for further readings
Thank you David and Merry Christmas🎄🙏🏻❄️