CHRISTMAS, AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE
In the Christmas stories fear fills the hearts of the mother Mary, the shepherds, and the populace of Jerusalem. We know how the story turned out, so it’s hard to identify with the holy terror of that holy night. Christmas is usually pretty tame for us. Now and then, however, something introduces a little fear into Christmas. Everyone present at the Newbiggin (England) Middle School Christmas Pageant on December 23, 1991, was enjoying the sight of their children on stage and the very delicate singing of Mary’s Magnificat. Just then, a field mouse popped out from a bale of straw, sat on its hind legs, and began grooming itself. According to headmaster Alan Symmonds, “The 130 children on stage were fairly good — they were only in mild hysterics — but the people in the audience jumped out of their seats and screamed.” When you think about it, leaping and shrieking are much more appropriate responses to…
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