Creativity During Advent: A Writing Exercise

Christmas 2020
December 2020, a lovely young woman, only a teen herself, moved purposely among her fellow travelers toward the end of a long journey, seeking a place of safety and shelter where she could birth the babe who lay inside her womb. A young man, a little older than herself, with kind eyes and gentle smile, had seen her among the crowd and understood the weariness and fear she wore upon her face. He approached her quietly and, noticing that she was with child, offered to be her companion along the dangerous journey. She nodded her head in grateful surrender.
After many long days of walking, they arrived late in the evening at the great wall of the US/Mexico border seeking a place to rest. She was one of many such women seeking refuge from oppression and violence at home: some ending up at infested tent cities on a distant island in Greece, others at war-torn camps in Kenya, some finding only the remains of damaged buildings left behind when hurricanes ravaged their homes and flooded their land or when fire left ashes and soot as the only reminders of the life they left behind.
The young woman’s name was Maria and her pilgrim companion Jose. They were of Hispanic descent, but they could have been Black, Asian or Native American, of Jewish or Muslim faith, lesbian or gay, disabled, uneducated, unemployed, a victim of poverty or abuse. Jose looked among the hundreds traveling with them to find water, food and rest.
When it was close to midnight, Maria asked Jose to take her to a dark corner in the cage where they were housed. He laid his cloak on the cold dirt floor and stood guard to keep her safe while her baby was born. Mary made not a sound in spite of the pain of birthing her child. No one noticed the miracle that had just taken place as she swaddled the infant in wrappings of soft, warm cloth she had packed for this child.
As Jose wrapped his cloak around the grateful mother to keep her warm, the beautiful boy she named Jesus let out his first loud cry. All the weary travelers awoke from their sleep and turned toward the corner where lay the mother and child. The moon and the stars grew brighter. Jose lifted the light from his lantern so all could see the beautiful face of their Savior. One by one the people came alive to the moment: the men stood and formed a barrier to keep away the wind; the women began to sing a beautiful lullaby they learned at their mothers’ knee when the women were young and their country was free; the children grabbed small tokens of love to lay at the feet of the child. Calmed by the sound of the song and cheered by the faces of children, the baby looked into their eyes and smiled. Everyone burst into music and dance, hope and life were enfleshed again, Christ was incarnated in the hearts of his people and God’s kingdom had come to this tiny part of the word.
How can I incarnate Christ in the small part of the world around me today?

Jesus will be born in my home due to Covid-19. Hospitals have no room available and people are too scare and panic of Covid to let strangers coming in to their homes. The Holy Family has no found a place to stay. It is evening and getting dark. It is cold outside. There is a Covid surge and new lockdown with many restrictions have emerged. Joseph comes to my neighborhood and knocks doors but no one open. My home is the last home. Joseph knocks my front door. I look through the window and notice a pregnant woman standing by the door. Mary and Joseph smile to me. I open the door and welcome them in my home. I ask them if they are hungry. They told me they had not eaten for while. So I prepare a dinner for them. After dinner I provide clean towels for them to take a shower and room to sleep. Joseph says Mary has not been feeling well and that he thinks the baby will be born sometime soon. I reply that I have a home emergency kit that will help us to assist Mary labor and new blanket to cover the baby but call me because we both will assist. It is December 25, 2020 around 4:00am , I hear some noise and a baby cry. I get up from bed and walk to their room with the emergency kit. I see Joseph holding baby Jesus in his arms. I assist Mary and clean up her. I clean the baby and cover Him with a blanket. My hope is Baby Jesus is born in my heart, in my home and particularly within my family that are in much need of His presence and action.
Hope, joy and peace during this time.

Jesus will be born in a large city in the northern United States. It’s been a tumultuous year—a mysterious virus has spread throughout the country, mostly affecting the elderly population. The hospitals are full and can’t accept a pregnant mother. His parents now realize that their child won’t be born in a clean medical facility, so they walk through the city looking for a safe place to rest.
Almost every storefront entry that could protect them from the cold, north wind has already been taken up by other people. His father is surprised at the numbers living on the streets. As he and his pregnant wife continue to search for a place they learn that in a desperate attempt to halt the spread of the illness, businesses had closed, forcing millions to be unemployed and eventually homeless.
There’s proof that violence had taken place in this city—store windows are boarded up with remnants of broken glass on the sidewalk. Nearby statues have been torn down. The parents of the soon-to-be-born babe have come face to face with the country’s political unrest.
They realize they are about to be parents in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they are faithful. They put their trust in God, knowing that somehow He has things under control.
They continue walking, the mother clings in pain to her husband as she begins contractions. They turn the corner of a dark street and their hope is stirred as they see the flashing red lights display the words “Family Homeless Shelter.” Their worries and fears turn into laughter as they marvel at how good God is.

I want to be involved in this story by being the homeless shelter’s doorman (woman). I want to welcome Jesus and his parents into a clean, safe, warm shelter. It may be full, but we’ll find a way to fit them in. The homeless are excited to welcome this new family.

A Grandfather’s Prayer Poem
——Revisited

Three days have passed
Since our joyful news
God has blessed
our Fourth Daughter too

A birthday party
Arranged with great love
For her spritely
Daughter at the age of three
Parents, Grandparents and
Her Great grandparent too
Celebrating Our little “you know who”

A final gift – a book
Shared the call
It’s title delivering
Joyful News to Us all

Acknowledging
God’s love to her and to you
It’s title revealed
“You Will Be a Big Sister Too”

The joy – the tears
The happiness and hugs,
Now like her older sister-
There will be TWO

Two days later
Our joy has turned to ash
As news came our way
That our fourth daughter
Had a visit from Corona

So now we get tested
To find out our fate
Praying for our daughter
And the little one of late
Hoping that Corona
Will soon not stay to late

For the little One of old
The Savior of us all
Was born in a stable
Donkeys, lambs and
Diseases all

A mother and father
On that cold morn
Cradling an infant
Who had just been born

So in this morning
of 2020
We plead for your Spirit
For our family
And Gifted persons
Who bring relief, healing and Grace

A mother, A father
A baby arriving
Living in Hope
and trust in God
As our Savior

We ask for your Faith
From that time so long ago
That came from that stable
Oh Come, O Come Emanuel!

Thanks Vinita. Jesus will be born in Africa. People from across Africa, North America, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Oceania and Asia will celebrate this momentous event with prayer, singing, sharing of wealth and riches, and wishing each other a Merry Christmas.

He will be born in a Covid environment and with hospitals stretched, he will be born at home through the assistance of his paternal grandmother who is an experienced midwife nurse. His parents will be overjoyed and will forever be grateful that God in his infinite wisdom gave the vocation of nursing to Joseph’s mother. They do not think it is just by a chance that she is a midwife. There will be an aura of holiness around their house and the community around will pray intensely for Covid to end as they know that without travel and social distance restrictions, they will be welcomed in this blessed household…and without masks. Supernatural events that will glorify God will take place including unexplained end of Covid. Authenticity, love will return to the world and crucifixion will no longer be necessary..

Thank you Vinta – your reflections inspire.

A Grandfathers Prayer-Poem
for A Christmas Fulfilled

A healthy baby boy
In an unhealthy year,
Arriving at last
before the New Year.

A 40-year old mother,
the first daughter of six,
Who, with her husband,
so wanted a brother
For their three-year old son

These past nine months,
Spent virtually alone,
With joyful time
of prayers answered
from Above

Two grandmothers watch,
Holding hope in their hearts,
That all will go well
with this next-born son

Both, who have seen
the loss of a little one,
-a brother, a son,
now looking down
from the heavens above

Wanting to hold
and caress this little one
who is yet to come,
Bringing new hope
and peace to each of them

Three wise-men sit watching
this tableau fulfilling,
Thinking and hoping
Of the prophecy yet to come
And wondering silently –
Aboutl courage and hope

And so they pray
for healing and health,
of three women
and a girlfriend
who came just to help.

I imagine Jesus is born in a slum in Mumbai, India. Its early in the day, but there is much noise, talking and music. Into this commotion Jesus is born and the word spreads around like wild fire. People collect outside the hut and the Little Babe is passed around. Soon His parents loose sight of Him, but they do not seem to be worried. I am a neighbour and I get a chance to cuddle Him – such a peace and joy passes through me. However I have to pass Him on. People are waiting to hold Him in their arms. I shall not forget the joy I experienced. After what seems like an age I can see Baby Jesus being brought back to His parents. There seems to be such an aura of peace and joy in this surrounding. Its amazing!

Thanks Vinita. Jesus will be born in a war-torn country. He will be born in a military hospital, the only medical facility available. His parents are poor. Jesus’ birth will impact the doctor who delivers him, the medical staff and all those in the hospital who are recovering from war wounds. They will look into the eyes of this helpless baby, there will be tears in their own eyes and they will fall in love: with humanity, with peace and with joy. His birth will touch all these people so deeply they will talk about it with everyone they meet and the message will spread around the world. I will hear the news from a soldier.