who's that baby?

there's been a lot of talk lately in the blog-o-sphere about recapturing the meaning of Christmas. I think this is a yearly task for most of us as each holiday season rolls around. but i have to admit, i've been in a bit of a spiritual funk over the last couple of weeks. now i can blame it on the tree rehearsals, blame it on my Bible study which is stuck in the OT (nothing wrong with that, I love it actually, but I count that reading as my quiet time and don't have enough Jesus in my life), blame it on the style of worship at my current church (as opposed to the loud, boisterous, youthful worship at UNC to which I had grown accustomed)--but it's really just that cycle, isn't it? that cycle of abundance and drought. and that's self-imposed drought, mind you.

but what about people who are learning about Christmas for the very first time--the ones who are first capturing it instead of having to recapture once its flitted away? whether they're new believers, unreached people groups, or, in my case, young children, it's amazing to witness the confusion mixed with wonder over the birth story, the dawning comprehension, the growing recognition.

we're almost through our second week of Christmas with the preschoolers. some of them are finally remembering that the name of the baby is Jesus. when we first asked what Christmas was about, they answered Santa. when we amended the question to ask whose birthday it was on Christmas, they all said, "mine." but now, after multiple encounters with the Christmas story, countless renditions of "ten little angels," and two artistic renderings of the nativity scene, we can point to their scribbled baby Jesus lying in the hay, asking "who's that baby?" and they know the answer.

"baby Jesus"

plus, i get to use a felt board with manger pieces. and what good church kid doesn't love a felt board?

but oh, to recapture that joyful innocence, before all the junk seeps in, the fears, the hurts, the doubts, the misgivings, the theological banter and denominational divisions. before any of that, there was just a baby lying in some hay. a very special baby. my kids are starting to get that--do we?