A Baby...

Christmas. A baby born in a manger in a place far away and a time long ago. But still celebrated today. There is no question that the date chosen for the celebration of this particular baby's birth is arbitrary...and tied to the date of another ancient celebration. No big deal. And the exact date is not the point of the whole celebration, anyway. The point of the celebration is bigger and more cosmic than A place, or A time...but it is about A child.

If you have been around a baby recently...or can remember what it is like to have been around one, then you know that they want your total and unidivided attention! Pretty much 24-7.
For the community I live-and-move-and-have-my-being in, we owe THIS baby that same thing.
Since the terror or excitment (depends on your point of view, entirely) of "Black Friday," and then "Cyber Monday" up to the very last shopping day, it is designed to be, and has been, a complete commercial distraction.
But now (at present it is about 10 days before Christmas, but I am focused on finalizing my Christmas Eve homily)...now, on Christmas Eve, that Silent and more-or-less Holy Night, its all about THE baby.
In THIS baby we find that every soul can learn its worth, every wrong can be set right, peace can outlive war, and darkness cannot overcome light!
The manger was in no way anything like the warm and comfy setting the baby in the above picture is experiencing. Animals drooled in it. Fluff-dryed blankets were not yet invented. We're not at all clear on the marital or non-marital status of the parents. Ah, but THAT baby. In THAT baby the hopes and fears of all the years were met...and resolved.
Give that your undivided attention for just a bit.