The Rob Blog

I wrote this post on Christmas Night, 2005. Over the years, I’ve written many things, and some have been read by a great many people and some by very few. This one in particular has seemed to make folks pretty happy and gotten read and passed around over the years and I try to make it a habit to post it around Christmas time every year. So, here you go. I hope you enjoy it.

DECEMBER 25 2005 -If you must know, I spent some time tonight in the Shack that sits in my backyard. I smoked two cigars and drank EggNog and Bourbon with a very dear friend. The two of us just sat for a long time, sharing dreams and hopes. Speaking of the things, which I believe we all want to speak of but sometimes never get the chance to say. The feeling I have at this moment is wonderful…I wish I could bottle it up and send some of it to each of you.

You know, the feelings that I get at Christmastime simply refuse to be denied…they come bounding into my heart in waves with such force that at times I am almost positive that any more happiness will make me simply explode. Watching my son today as he opened presents was amazing. Rusty was filled with the pure joy of a little boy who isn’t quite sure why everyone is being so nice to him, but isn’t going to let a little uncertainty stop him from enjoying himself to the fullest. We had a wonderful time with the tree, the presents, the Christmas story, family, and turkey… all of it. But that wasn’t my favorite part.

My favorite moment came around 4 am Christmas Eve, when my wife and I had finally finished preparing everything for Christmas morning. I sat in the dark living room, watching the fire in the fireplace and the lights on the tree, while our new kitten, Coal purred in my ear like a Mustang GT that has lost its muffler. I was tired, sure…but how could I possibly sleep when I knew that in a few hours, my beloved son was going to wake up and start the happiest morning of his life. No, sleep was not an option. So instead of sleeping, I allowed myself to doze quietly on the couch and take it all in. Wow…

Though I had not asked for any presents this year, my wife was still able to exceed all of my hopes. She surprised me with the first volume of the St. Johns Bible, which contains the Synoptic Gospels and the Book of Acts. Some of you may have heard about it this year in the news or on NPR. It’s the first illuminated, hand-scribed Bible to be made in over 500 years. A man studied in the arts of the ancient Celtic Monks who transcribed the Book of Kells, is transcribing it at St. Johns University, and it is truly something to behold. I determined that the very first passage that I would read from it would be the book of Luke, Chapter 2, which is the story of the birth of the Christ. As I held the book in front of me, I let my eyes drift slowly down the page, savoring every word. I let my fingers graze each letter, being careful not to miss any nuance. The opposite page had a beautiful impressionist painting of the nativity, and I took a moment to let it all sink in…. “Be Ye not afraid…for unto You this day, a child is born.”

You know, I am not sure what kind of Christmas you have all had. I am sure that the Christmas experienced had by all of you Roblog readers has been as varied as you readers yourselves. I can only pray that you have each had at least one moment when everything was right in your universe. One moment when time stopped and there was no pain. One second during which your soul was at rest.

I know that many of you do not believe in the Christ child. Many of you in fact, may have very legitimate reasons for not subscribing to this whole Christian thing. It’s amazing how much damage people can do in the name of Jesus. As a result, I’ve never been the type to beat anyone over the head with my big Bible (and given the size of the St. John Bible that I now own, you should consider yourselves very lucky for that fact.) But here’s the beauty of the birth of Christ – Its importance is not dependent upon your belief.

That sounds crazy, but I assure you, it’s true. You see, the Shepherds who were out on the hills that night had never seen or experienced Jesus before. They were just some guys out doing their jobs. It was cold. It was dark. They were probably pretty uncomfortable. Some of them were more than likely cursing themselves for taking this job in the first place…I mean, nothing new ever happened around these parts, and let’s face it, watching sheep gets pretty boring after the first few weeks. And yet…something happened that night that would forever change them, and had they not been in that job at that time, they might have missed it entirely. These shepherds didn’t know Jesus from a hole in the ground, but suddenly they found themselves in the midst of the single most important moment in the history of mankind up until that point. (And, I might add, quite possibly the most important moment ever since…) And that’s how it works, you see. You don’t have to believe in Jesus right now for his birth to be the most important thing that has ever happened to you. The fact that you don’t believe doesn’t change the miracle one little bit.

I know many of you are sitting in your day job hell, working every day with nothing to show for it other than a paycheck that barely pays the bills. Your dreams and hopes were railroaded a very long time ago by a variety of things…people… circumstances… possibly even yourself.

That’s a scary place to be. I know. I’m there. In fact, if we are all a bunch of scared shepherds, then I am the most incompetent shepherd among us. My sheep are always getting lost. I never remember to feed them on time, and I suck at using that staff thing that is supposed to keep them in line. In fact, most days, I’m either sitting around afraid that the Head Shepherd is going to fire me, or wishing with my whole heart that he would. I am a sad sack of a shepherd indeed.

But if you don’t mind, since we are here on our hill all alone for the moment, allow me to play the role of the angel when I say… “Hey shepherds… I know you didn’t intend for this to be the way that your life has turned out. I know that it’s cold out and that you are uncomfortable. I know that 10 bucks an hour doesn’t pay the bills. I know that you are scared…but don’t be afraid, because tonight, in the city of David, a child was born…and guess what, he’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. You may not believe in him yet, but he believes in you.”

Peace and Grace to you this night, dear readers…Godspeed and faith.

Rob