Have you ever stopped to think about the difficulties faced by the participants that first Christmas?
The poor magi, they got stopped at security because they had Persian last names. Actually, they had Persian first names also, which made them really late. And then they lost their Ronco Plumb Bob, which would have helped them determine what point on earth was directly beneath the star. What a hassle! They had to locate the Messiah the old fashioned way - eyeball the building beneath the star. It was enough to make a magus give up in despair, but none of them did.
The shepherds felt honored to have been invited by the angel to visit the newborn Messiah, but after arriving they remembered they had forgotten gifts. Don't you hate it when that happens? Being good Presbyterians they normally would have taken a covered dish, Shepherd's Pie, but they were so excited they didn't even think about it. Plus they had to bring their flocks with them to Bethlehem. They couldn't leave them out in the fields else mattress companies would steal them for commercials about "counting sheep." It was a hassle.
Mary was all set to have her baby at Nazareth Presbyterian Hospital. She felt at home there. Joseph hade been the contractor for the new Women's Wing. Then he came home with the news that they had to go to Bethlehem to be registered for Herod's tax purposes. Bummer! There were no direct flights, and room reservations were impossible. When they got word that King Herod, a.k.a. The Terminator, was seeking to kill baby Jesus lest he grow up and be a threat, they took a flight to Egypt to hide out there.
All kidding aside, life was not hassle-free that first Christmas. If yours is not hassle-free either this year, you're in good company. Hang in there. We have cause for hope. - DJ
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