A Closer Walk

A pastor once told the story of a church that was putting on a play about the birth of Jesus. This particular church had a family with a boy that was developmentally disabled. The organizers wondered how to use the boy since he was one of the older children which usually carried the speaking parts. They decided to give him the part of The Innkeeper; obviously a pivotal role in the Christmas story. In this particular play the Innkeeper had one line which consisted of four words, "I have no room." The organizers talked to the boy about this character in the play and he assured them that he would say the line. Satisfied they proceeded with play practices. The night of the play arrived and everything proceeded more or less as planned; with the usual highjinks and tomfoolery from the younger children, which the audience adored. Then it came time for The Innkeeper scene. The boy playing Joseph asked The Innkeeper for a room for the night for himself and his wife and their soon to be born baby. At the point where The Innkeeper was supposed to say his four word line there was dead silence. Nothing. Then a voice from offstage could be heard in a loud whisper, "I have no room; I have no room; I have no room." Thinking the boy had forgotten his line the voice was trying to prompt him. Still silence. The organizers looked at each other wondering what they should do, all feeling that the play was going to be a disaster. Finally, after what seemed like a small eternity the boy playing The Innkeeper loudly proclaimed, "You can have my room!" The crowd, knowing how the story is supposed to go, proudly gave The Innkeeper a standing ovation as his face beamed with a smile from ear to ear.
The self evident sacrifice in those five words was no doubt heart-rending to the crowd. Although when the pastor related this story he did not mention anything about the crowd, I suspect that there were many in the audience who had tears rolling down their cheeks. The boy who was supposed to say the line, "I have no room," likely was thinking during his silence about how he The Innkeeper could help this couple who were about to have a baby.
This time of year is a time of giving. You may receive numerous requests for donations from many charities, some of which you may have never heard of, during this season. Why do you suppose they do that? Because they know that for many people this time of year is a time of giving. Magazines have articles about how much to tip the Doorman, the Postman, the Plumber, and others who have been in your life over this past year. And of course there are the usual Christmas presents for family and friends.
This time of year gives us an occasion to pause and ask ourselves, "Did I really need that third Mercedes?” Some pastors call that “Needs and Greeds.” Separating our needs from our wants can be difficult. Is the guy who bought the third Mercedes being greedy? Maybe. But we, you and I, do not have the wisdom or insight to be able to discern the answer to a question like that. But if we, you and I, just bought ourselves our third Mercedes we could certainly ask that question of ourselves.
During this time of year we can look back upon things we did this past year and do some self-examination. Was that purchase God glorifying? Could I have handled that situation differently, or better. Or any number of things that could make us more like our Christ. This season is particularly good for this self-reflection and examination because three weeks from today is New Year's Eve. And we will begin a new year, if Jesus tarries.
So think of the developmentally disabled boy who offered his own room for Jesus to be born in and pray and ask our God, “What would you like me to do better or different next year?” “What can I do to be more Like Christ?”
“O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. For He alone is worthy, For He alone is worthy, For He alone in worthy, Christ the Lord.” Translator Frederich Oakeley 1802-1880, Author John Francis Wade 1711-1786, tune Adeste Fideles.