The Journey to Christ: A Christmas Story, Chapter 7
By: Kathleen Lockwood
Tags: Spirituality, Christmas, Religion, Jesus, Christianity

Sammy and Cammy continued to stare at each other and all the shepherds. They could see the light of God in everyone! It was amazing to them and hard to believe. As they questioned this in their minds, the bird appeared and landed on the manger. “Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you know that all humans are children of God? “

“Well, yes, but, this?” Cammy stumbled, “I didn’t think it meant ME. I didn’t think it meant everyone!” She paused again, “What about bad people,” she whispered.

“Caaa, Caaa! There are no ‘bad’ people in the eyes of Christ; no one is excluded from the love of God! Remember, Jesus said, ‘I am the vine, and you are the branches.’ He was talking about the whole human race. Caaa, the life of Christ that flows through the vine must flow into all the branches! Caaa!” The bird replied and then quickly flew up into the rafters.

As she was flying away, tiny sparks appeared over the Baby. He looked up and smiled. The tiny lights looked like atoms spinning. They got larger and brighter as they spun around faster and faster. Eventually, the Angel materialized. Her head and most of her body seemed solid, but her feet were still in their atomic form. Sammy and Cammy bravely faced the Angel. She smiled at them and asked, “How was your journey?”

Sammy could not contain his exuberance. “Insane! We found Jesus, but then this crazy light thing happened. We couldn’t see anything and now we look like we have lightbulbs in our bodies!” Cammy answered more thoughtfully, “I heard that we were children of God, but I didn’t think it meant THIS!” She said, pointing to her glowing heart.

The Angel sighed sweetly, “But you remember Genesis, don’t you? God said,’ Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness’.” She laughed to herself. “Did you think that God has two eyes, a nose, and a mouth just like yours? You were made in His Image; he wasn’t made in YOURS! No. No. No.” She chuckled, “Love is the image. The greater your love for yourselves and others, the brighter the light that shines within. That is how you reflect yourselves as images of God. By your Love.”

The bird came down to join this conversation,” When you are shining your light, you are increasing other’s light. Don’t you notice how love begets love?”

Sammy piped up, “You mean like when you are nice to someone, they are usually nice to you?”

The Angel smiled at them, “I think they are ready to go home.”

“Home!” the two exclaimed; they were ready,

“Can I kiss Jesus goodbye”? Cammy asked tentatively. “There are no goodbyes,” the Angel answered, “Jesus will always be in your heart.”

Cammy and Sammy held Jesus in their arms and kissed him. Their bodies slowly dissolved into tiny sparks of light, and then…

WHOOSH!

“Wow, what was that?” The father yelled as he slammed on the breaks.

“It looked like a bird. What is it doing out here in this snowstorm? I almost hit it!”

It was a dark and snowy late December eve, and the Starre family was on their way to their church’s Christmas pageant. The napping children in the crowded backseat woke up with a jolt, and the older ones immediately started to talk about how much fun a snow day would be! Mom passed out cookies.

“You’re going to be a great shepherd,” said Cammy, smiling at Sammy. “I agree,” said her mom. They all smiled as they thought about what a magical night they were going to have. When they pulled into the church parking lot, it was packed. Laughing at a joke Cammy just told, the family weaved their way through the icy darkness towards the brightly lit church doors.

Suddenly, a large shape loomed out from between the parked cars. Startled, everyone stepped back as a shabbily dressed man held out his hand to them. “Do you have anything for an old man?” he asked, snow covering his beard, “I’m hungry.” Cammy stepped up, “Please come inside and see our pageant,” she said, “It is warm, and there will be plenty of food afterward.” Happily, he followed the family inside.

Once inside the church, the two oldest children quickly rushed to join the loud crowd of laughing classmates. Excitement filled the air as their Sunday School teacher helped them transform sheets and blankets into shepherd costumes.

Cammy gathered with her group of friends. “Look at Lindsey,” she said, smiling, “she did a great job remembering her lines. She makes such a beautiful Mary.” Lindsey heard her and smiled.

“Okay, everyone! It’s time to take your places,” called out the Sunday School teacher. The curtain rose.

The children dressed as angels started to sing “Glory to God on the Highest, and peace to his people on earth.’’ The pageant flowed smoothly.

It was Cammy’s turn to speak, “Come on, everyone!” She called to the shepherds, “Let’s go find the Lord!” She and Sammy looked at each other, thinking, was something odd about this?

She led the shepherds in circles around the stage until they came to a far corner. Then, the people backstage pulled the curtain back, and Mary and Joseph were sitting in front of a manger with a little plastic baby doll in it.

Cammy proclaimed, “Look, everyone! The Christ child!”

Now it was time for Sammy to say his line. He walked up to the manger and looked out at the audience. He saw his parents and many other people smiling.

A hand flipped a light switch as Sammy called out, “Behold the light of the world!” The plastic baby doll lit up.

Sammy and Cammy looked at each other in remembrance. Their hearts glowed, “Oh my!” Cammy called out.

“I remember!” Sammy answered. The two of them stood on stage, and suddenly the whole trip to Bethlehem came flooding back to them.

They looked at each other and saw the inner glow. They turned to look at the audience, and everyone had the same glow of love, the light, the life of Christ in their hearts!

Just then, the chorus of angels on stage started to sing, and the audience joined in:

“Joy to the world the Lord has come..…”

The End.

And the beginning…