In the days leading up to December 25th,
thousands of people will fill airports, train stations and use any other
means of transportation available to travel home for Christmas. The
destination itself and the celebrations anticipated uppermost in their mind;
the journey itself just another ordinary trip.
In December 1944 there was a soldier that had been
badly wounded in the war and was being sent home. Because of the Army
misplacing his paperwork, he was delayed and was finally able to leave three
days later than anticipated at 9 p.m. in a blinding snow storm.
A cheerful conductor wishing him a Merry Christmas
awoke him to the astonishing fact that it was Christmas Eve. He felt
cheated. After being away from home the past two Christmases he would now
spend all of Christmas Eve traveling. Traveling was what he had been doing
now for three years; traveling that led to pain and suffering. He should,
he felt, have at least remembered what day it was.
Looking around him, for the first time, he saw that he
was on an empty train except for three other people. He heard the others
exchanging their reasons for a late departure. A doctor by the name of
Stephens, said he had been to a convention and had come down with the flu,
which delayed his trip. A powerfully built young man by the name of John
Allen said he had such a good hand of cards that he was bound to stay at the
poker table and missed his appointed train. Miss Emily Dooley, seventy five
was on her way to spend Christmas with her elderly parents who were ninety
seven. Miss Dooley blamed her own procrastination.
The soldier watching the whirling gusts of snow
whipping past the window was thinking how long it had been since as a small
boy he had gone alone into the fields on his family’s farm late on Christmas
Eve and in the stillness of the night the wonder and the majesty of
Christmas had filled his heart with Joy.
Dr. Stephens and Miss. Emily begin to tell stories
about Christmas celebrations to pass the time. The soldier tuned them out
until he heard young John Allen say, “We can all tell stories about
Christmas, why doesn’t somebody write a story about getting to Christmas?”
Dr. Stephens said, “Maybe that’s because nothing
happens to people on their way to celebrate Christmas is as interesting as
the celebration itself.” “That must be the answer,” Miss Emily said, “after
all; thousands of people are doing it at the same time. It’s just an
ordinary trip. Why should anyone want to write about it?”
The soldier with a quiver in his voice spoke for the
first time, “I know a story he said, about extraordinary things that
sometime happen to people who think they are going on a perfectly ordinary
trip.” Surprised, the other three passengers listened with anticipation,
thinking he was going to tell a story about his experience in the war.
Taking a small battered New Testament from his jacket
pocket and turning to the Gospel according to Luke, he read the most
extraordinary description that has ever been written about what the
participants thought at the time was a perfectly ordinary trip:
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out
a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this
taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to
be taxed every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be
taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was,
that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son. And wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for
them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of
the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around about them:
and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto
you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger”.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will towards men”.
