----- Forwarded by Bina Mathew/IBS on 12/04/01 09:02 AM -----
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
(Written by Paul H. Dunn)
Once upon a time, there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot
of humbug.
He wasn't a Scrooge. He was a very kind and decent person, generous to
his family, upright in all his dealings with other men. But he didn't
believe all that stuff about an incarnation which churches proclaim at
Christmas. And he was too honest to pretend that he did.
"I am truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, who was a
faithful churchgoer, "but I simply cannot understand this claim that
God became man. It doesn't make any sense to me."
On Christmas Eve, his wife and children went to church for the
midnight service. He declined to accompany them. "I'd feel like a
hypocrite," he explained. "I'd much rather stay at home. But I'll wait
up for you."
Shortly after his family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He
went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and
heavier.
"If we must have a Christmas," he reflected, "it's nice to have a
white one."
He went back to his chair by the fireside and began to read his
newspaper. A few minutes later, he was startled by a thudding sound.
It was quickly followed by another, then another. He thought that
someone must be throwing snow balls at his living room window.
When he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of
birds huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the
storm, and in a desperate search for shelter had tried to fly through
his window.
I can't let those poor creatures lie there and freeze, he thought. But
how can I help them?
Then he remembered the barn where the children's pony was stabled. It
would provide a warm shelter. He quickly put on his coat and galoshes
and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the
doors wide and turned on the light. But the birds didn't come in.
Food will bring them in, he thought. So he hurried back to the house
for bread crumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into
the barn. To his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and
continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them
into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in
every direction - except into the warm, lighted barn.
"They find me a strange and terrifying creature," he said to himself,
"and I can't seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust
me. If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I
could lead them to safety."
Just at that moment, the church bells began to ring. He stood silently
for a while, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of
Christmas. Then he sank to his knees in the snow.
"Now I understand," he whispered. "Now I see why you had to do it."
"And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring
you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for
today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a
baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there
appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men
with whom He is pleased.'" (Luke 2:10-14 NASB)
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)
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