Kneeling in the "Stable"
It is Saturday January 21st and I want to spend time at the birthplace of Jesus. I want quiet. I want a special place to gather my thoughts and have the opportunity to just "be." I entered the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem as I have done several times before. The crowds are thin today. I make my way to the "grotto" of the birthplace of the Messiah.... Jesus Christ. The grotto is a cave, an outcropping of rock that offers protection for the elements. The grotto contains one bench and there I sit.
It is most interesting watching pilgrims from every country imaginable passing through this tiny space. I watch as a woman approaches the fourteen point star. She kneels reverently.... more than bows... she prostrates herself before the altar of the Lord. Beneath the altar is a silver star marking the traditional site of the birth. With her right hand she caresses the star. Around and around moves her hand, tenderly touching and absorbing the spirit of the cool metal. Only it is not cool. In fact, I can see that it warms her heart. She is lost in this moment of time for an eternity. She is carried on the wings of an eagle perhaps.
In devotion, the woman straightens as she lifts her body from the marble floor beneath the altar and she raises her right hand to her face. Again, tenderly, lovingly, adoringly she caresses her face with the hand that has come in contact with the divine action of salvation in this place. In circular motions she transfers the touch of the loving act of God to herself. Here, God is very tactile, or God can be, if that is what feeds your spirit. Such public acts of devotion to God are not unusual nor are they scoffed at nor do they become actions of ridicule. In true devotion and purity of heart each one searches out what is helpful for their own pilgrimage.
Me? I sit quietly, and in good time I move forward and I light a candle from the flame that burns nearest the star. I will take this candle home to London, and next Christmas Eve with it, we will together light the Christ Candle and proclaim in unison that the light of Christ overcomes the darkness of our lives and the darkness of the world.
It is most interesting watching pilgrims from every country imaginable passing through this tiny space. I watch as a woman approaches the fourteen point star. She kneels reverently.... more than bows... she prostrates herself before the altar of the Lord. Beneath the altar is a silver star marking the traditional site of the birth. With her right hand she caresses the star. Around and around moves her hand, tenderly touching and absorbing the spirit of the cool metal. Only it is not cool. In fact, I can see that it warms her heart. She is lost in this moment of time for an eternity. She is carried on the wings of an eagle perhaps.
In devotion, the woman straightens as she lifts her body from the marble floor beneath the altar and she raises her right hand to her face. Again, tenderly, lovingly, adoringly she caresses her face with the hand that has come in contact with the divine action of salvation in this place. In circular motions she transfers the touch of the loving act of God to herself. Here, God is very tactile, or God can be, if that is what feeds your spirit. Such public acts of devotion to God are not unusual nor are they scoffed at nor do they become actions of ridicule. In true devotion and purity of heart each one searches out what is helpful for their own pilgrimage.
Me? I sit quietly, and in good time I move forward and I light a candle from the flame that burns nearest the star. I will take this candle home to London, and next Christmas Eve with it, we will together light the Christ Candle and proclaim in unison that the light of Christ overcomes the darkness of our lives and the darkness of the world.
posted by Philip | 2:20 p.m.
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