Nothing man has ever made or will make can remotely touch the wonder of the human mind.
The fact that you are even reading this is a testimony of its complexity and power. Part of your ability to read and understand such began when you were in the, say, fourth grade when you were captivated by marvelous stories that you have never forgotten because they are impressionably stored in your mind for a lifetime and for instant recall. No computer software is necessary. This Christmas story I am writing is not mine, but one I heard decades ago, but it a variation of mine to share with you. Thanks for its memory. I have no idea of who the author of the story is, but I admire his story telling and the Christmas message. I will share with you his basic story as I recall it.
In the small country school no one even thought that presenting the Christmas story in school was a violation of the constitutional guarantee of religious equality. The idea of retelling the ancient story of the “reason for the season” was a tradition that had been carried on for generations in that grammar school with no complaint from anyone but rather was an event warmly anticipated and appreciated as a normal, acceptable part of celebrating Christmas. Political correctness had not yet arrived. The whole school in various ways was involved in the production. There were actors before the audience and many others behind the scenes but all important roles to the participants. Of course there were some “main” characters in the presentation and a special role, one that was reserved for a little boy who, because of his disabilities (challenges) was limited in what he might do in the play. All his role required him to do was to be an unspoken
shepherd standing with his staff beside the door of the inn where a young couple hoped to spend the night.
The inn keeper answered their knock and when he was told of their need for lodging for the night, he regretfully answered that there was no room at the Inn.
But as soon as the innkeeper had uttered these disappointing words, there was an unplanned response from the little shepherd boy who obviously was caught up in the real drama of the scene.
“That’s no problem,” he said earnestly.
“There is an extra bedroom at our home, and they can come and spend the night with our family.” No one expected his response, but it was one that everyone in attendance remembers to this day.
The little shepherd boy in his innocence had been able in a few words to make room in his heart for The One who would soon arrive on what became a day named in his honor: Christmas.
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Bill Lee, P.O. Box 128,
Hamer, SC 29547
