It’s the evening of what promises to be a really big snowfall. Temperatures are plummeting into the teens. Schools have already called a full remote day for everyone tomorrow. And I just finished messaging a homeless young woman who has been sleeping in her car but is leery of the coming weather. How did she find herself in this situation? How can this be?
Jesus was not born in a place of proper shelter. He was born in a manger, among the livestock. Why didn’t his parents plan ahead and set off on their journey sooner? Did the innkeeper have no heart? Wouldn’t another family take them in or even give up their bed for this pregnant woman? Was Joseph on the outs with his family of origin and not able to stay with them? How can this be?
Too often in the midst of what seems to be an unbearable situation and we look for either blame or ways to fix it. There must be some reason they are in this situation right? If not, how could this be happening? How can the world be so broken as to let a young woman sleep in her car in a snowstorm (so close to Christmas especially!)? What does it mean than a young woman had to give birth to a baby among the livestock (especially the son of God)? How can this be?
These questions arise out of sense of discomfort. The world does not match they way we think it should be. Our reptilian brains which are triggered by this sense of danger cause us to fight, flee or freeze. We look for who to blame or how to fix the problem. We ignore it and try not to think about it. We feel stuck.
Let us consider another way we can respond. Think of it as our mammalian brains. The warm blooded animals in the manger that night likely helped to keep the holy family a little warmer. The pictures present them as peacefully coexisting with this new human life. We don’t know how it was, but I do know how my warm blooded animals respond. They are great listeners. They are content just to curl up next to me. Even if they don’t actually do much, it’s a comfort to have them around. When they are not there, their presence is missed.
In a manger, surrounded by warm blooded animals, this child was born. In a motel, supported by kind strangers, I pray that the presence of the Christ child is keeping this young woman company.