Witness to a Miracle

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         First Place: December, 2005. "Invalid Item"  -- 10,000 GPS and reviews of work in my portfolio

         Third Place December 2006 round of "The Best of the Rest at the Bee Hive "  - 10k Awardicon

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I had just about given up on Christmas the last few years. Life and death had scattered my family and friends to the point that I have spent the last two years at home alone in front of the television on Christmas Day. I resigned myself to the fact that this year would be the same.

I managed to decorate a little three foot tree to sit next to my recliner, but all the outside decorations and the Christmas village I had worked so hard at collecting over the years were all still banished to the corner of the attic.

It was Christmas Eve and I was determined not to fall into the depressed slump I had on previous years, so I poured a glass of wine, turned off all the lights, plugged in the tree, and settled into my recliner with my Bible. Perhaps if I read the Gospel accounts of what Christmas is really about, I can focus on Jesus tomorrow instead of my lonely little self.

I must have fallen asleep because, suddenly, I found myself standing in front of a wooden door leading into an old house. From the surroundings, it looked as though I were in a village in old Palestine. I mean old, first century, Palestine. Even my own clothes indicated the period. From the other side of the door, I heard a voice call out to me that seemed to touch my very soul.

“Child, knock and I will open the door before you.” I hesitated a moment, and then timidly struck my knuckles on the door. My heart jumped within me as the door swung open. I could feel the warmth coming from inside the room, and stepped in.

Once inside, I saw the owner of the voice sitting at a table in the center of the room. Although it was somewhat dark inside, I knew deep within it was my Lord Jesus. When I got closer and could see His face, I dropped to my knees in homage to Him.

As He began to speak, He took my hand and I rose to my feet. “Child, I have brought you here tonight because you wanted to remember what the story of Christmas is really about. I wanted you to witness it first-hand. Will you come with me back to the time of my birth and let the truth of what you see tonight settle into your heart and soul?”

I nodded yes, still holding His hand. I wanted to tell Him I would go anywhere He wanted me to, and do anything He asked of me, but I could't manage to speak even one word.

He explained further, that I would actually be present at His birth, but with the exception of His mother Mary and the angels, the other people I would encounter would not see me. He reminded me that I was there to witness, not to participate, at least not outwardly.

He led me back to the open door, still holding my hand, and told me to walk along with the people that were coming into Bethlehem from all directions. He told me that I would come upon an angel who was waiting for me to guide me and teach me. As I stepped back through the door, I was immediately caught up into the crowds heading into town.

I walked for several hundred yards when I noticed someone by my side, keeping pace with me. “Hello Christine. I am the angel Jesus told you about. Our Lord has asked you to witness something that will change your life forever! He is so very pleased that you have agreed to this journey and asked me to accompany you and help you understand what you see.”

“See that woman in front of us riding on the donkey? That is Mary, and the man leading them in is Joseph. They are here to register, as are all the people that are coming into town tonight.”

With that, Mary turned and looked directly at me and smiled. She didn’t look like the picture I had in my mind of the Mary I thought I knew. I had always envisioned a woman dressed in blue with a crown upon her head. Instead, she was a very young Jewish woman, very modestly dressed, and very pregnant. The long, hard journey they had just made had taken it’s toll on her, and it was shown on her face.

Joseph stopped and said a few words to her and went inside the Inn. Mary turned and looked back at me once more as if to invite me to stay with her.

I turned to ask my angel what I should do next but he was nowhere in sight. I realized the next decision was up to me and I didn't know what to do. I stood motionless for a few minutes and just watched, as I was sure Mary would somehow let me know. Mary had turned back around to face the door that Joseph had gone into. When he finally emerged, looking frustrated and a little embarrassed, he approached Mary and said a few words. Soon they were off again to try somewhere else. There were so many people coming into town, most if not all of the available rooms were already gone.

As they started down the path alongside the Inn, Mary turned her head and looked back at me. I knew then what I was to do, and so I began to follow them keeping a safe distance so as not to be seen. I had forgotten what Jesus had told me earlier that only Mary and the angels would be able to see me.

We walked for a time until we came upon a stable where Joseph helped Mary down to her feet. She was obviously not feeling well as the time for her to give birth was fast approaching. As Joseph began gathering the blankets and items that they would need to bed down for the night, Mary reached out her hand towards me.

She stood there for a moment with her hand outstretched until I reached and took her hand, and we walked into the stable together. There was a light in the sky above the stable that shone down and illuminated the area surrounding us, and even inside the stable without a lantern, we could see fairly well. She turned to me, took both my hands in hers, and as she began to speak, a tear rolled down her cheek.

"My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me
and Holy is His name.

His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
according to the promise He made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to His descendants forever."

(Luke 1:46-55}

It was the Magnificat, which she had first spoken to Elizabeth. I had heard this so many times before - but to hear it from her lips made my heart leap with joy. With this, we walked over to a small wooden bench against one of the walls to wait for Joseph. It was unseasonably cold and as we sat down, she took one end of the blanket that was across her shoulders and placed it around mine.

"I know you are filled with questions and are looking for answers, especially about everything that is happening tonight. Nevertheless, that isn't why my son brought you here tonight. What you will witness tonight is a gift from Him to you; nothing more, nothing less. A great gift and a great honor that he has asked you to be present at the moment of his birth. I know this is all overwhelming, but open your heart and soul to receive the one who will make you whole."

I wanted to ask Mary how she knew that I was here, and how it was possible that I spoke to Jesus in that house, here, tonight, yet he wasn’t even born yet. However, as Mary had said, tonight was not about questions and before I could utter a word, Joseph came in and began spreading the blankets out for her bed. Mary got up and with great difficulty walked over to Joseph.

Joseph looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Mary, I am so sorry about this. Tomorrow morning I will go to every door in town and knock until I can find a room for you. Perhaps I can offer the donkey as trade". He turned back to trying to making her area as comfortable as possible.

When Joseph was done, he took the last blanket and went into the next stall to make his bed. Mary spread one of her blankets out on the ground next to her and motioned for me to lay on it to rest. It wasn't very long before I had drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to see the angel standing a few feet away. Mary was awake now and kneeling on her blanket, eyes closed, and deep in prayer. I quietly rose to my feet and walked over to the angel, and together we stepped outside.

The skies above the stable were filled with stars. One star in particular was very large and brilliant, and its rays were shining directly on the stable that housed the Holy Family. The star seemed to dance in the sky to an inaudible song of angels singing their praises for the events that had begun to unfold.

The angel and I stood staring at this star, when from inside the stable came the sound of a baby’s cry. I immediately fell to my knees, tears filling my eyes and a sudden warmth flooded my soul. The angel was also on his knees and a look of pure joy blanketed his face as he began to sing the most beautiful song of praise I had ever heard. Then I could hear other celestial voices joining in. The heavens had opened and the air was filled with angel's voices.

After we knelt there for what seemed like eternity, the angel rose to his feet and helped me to mine and we walked back into the stable. Mary was sitting with the newborn Christ child in her arms, and Joseph was standing at her side. As they both adored the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, I once again dropped to my knees.

"Joseph, I am thirsty. Would you please find me something to drink?" Joseph reached for a small bucket and headed out in search of water. After he had left, Mary motioned for me to come over and sit next to her. As I looked upon the face of my Lord, my heart and soul were filled with such peace that tears began streaming down my cheeks.

To my surprise, Mary held out the Holy Child for me, and as I took him in my arms, I finally realized the true meaning of Christmas. It is about the gift from God of his only son, the gift of Mary and of Joseph to humanity, and for me, the gift that He had given me tonight, here is this place.

Mary took the babe back into her arms just as Joseph returned and I joined my angel at the door. We stood for a few minutes watching them until finally the angel led me back outside.

"It is time now for you to leave. You carry within your heart and soul a gift that not many people have the opportunity to possess. You have just witnessed with your own eyes, God’s greatest gift to man. Now, follow the path back the way you came, and you will come to the door you stood in front of earlier. Our Lord waits for you there."

I was deeply saddened that I could not stay here forever gazing upon that glorious face, but I hurried back to the door and knocked once again. It immediately opened and I stepped inside to find Jesus sitting at the table. On the table, there was enough wine and bread for two, and a beautiful crystal cross. Jesus looked at me and smiled.

"Come, sit and eat and let's talk about what you have seen tonight". We sat and talked for nearly an hour. At one point, I must have been staring the crystal cross, for Jesus began talking about it. We talked for some time about the significance of the cross and about each of the crosses, which I have borne, and those that are to come. When the sun began to shine through the window, Jesus stood and walked me to the door and told me that it was time to leave.

“Lord, may I ask one more thing? May I come back here and journey with you through more events in your life?”

As he answered me, a beautiful smile washed over his face and a look of joy came into his eyes. “I would like that very much.” He opened the door and as I stepped out into the street...

******

Ring…ring…ring… The Bible almost tumbled from my lap to the floor as I jumped and ran for the phone.

"Hello…?"

"Merry Christmas! Don't tell me you were still asleep?"

"Uh-huh. Merry Christmas - what time is it?"

"Ten o’clock. Go get some coffee and I'll call you back in half-an-hour."

"Ok. Wow, did I have a dream last night!"

"Tell me about it when I call back. Go get some coffee."

I hung up the phone, still not sure who it was on the other end and went to the kitchen to start coffee. On returning to the living room, as soon as my eyes fell on the Christmas tree, I stopped dead in my tracks. Sitting under the tree that had been completely bare of presents just the night before was a solitary present wrapped in gold paper and adorned with a large gold bow.

I carefully unwrapped the present and inside, nestled in straw, was the crystal cross that had been on the table where Jesus and I had dined. I fell to my knees and began to weep looking into the heavens.

"Oh Lord, it wasn't a dream! Thank you. Thank you for bringing Christmas to me. Happy Birthday, and Merry Christ-mas"

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