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The Cow and the Horse
By Bob Chance | December 23, 2007
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
Isa 11:10
Some of the stories of children and Christmas pageants are legendary. Most of us have heard the one about the little boy that plays the role of the inn keeper in Bethlehem the night of Jesus’ birth. His line was, of course, “I’m sorry, you’ll have to go elsewhere, we are all full up, there is no room in the inn”. The problem was the little boy just couldn’t bring himself to say those lines. He would practice and practice and practice and then “knock, knock, knock” and there were “Mary” and “Joseph” at “his” door and so he would say “Well, alright, we’ll find a place, come on in.” Of course, it always short-circuited the pageant and the other kids didn’t know quite what to do next. But, it’s an often told story that is still cute. I can just see the big lumbering kid, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, inviting Mary and Joseph in – there was room in HIS inn.
We had our own classic children’s pageant story “live”, several years ago. The kids had practiced and practiced for their Christmas pageant and everything was ready to go. Christmas pageants have their own energy and their own drama and excitement was in the air.
I had just had surgery and so was sitting out in the congregation, eager to enjoy the beautiful story of Christ’s birth as told by our children. I wasn’t to do any lifting, straining or moving quickly so I was settled down and happy as a turtle snuggled up under a big pile of leaves. I was proud of all the kids but especially my own three grandchildren who were in the play. Carter was playing the part of a horse and his role was to simply stand by the cradle and quietly observe the birth of the blessed savior. Marybeth had a part as a cow and her role was to be on the other side of the chancel and enjoy the beauty of the savior’s birth from afar.
Before the service had begun, while no one else was in the sanctuary I had noticed that Marybeth was totally and absolutely “glued” into the cradle where a small plastic baby had been placed. Marybeth has always had a deep affection for baby dolls and during the practice when no one else was looking she would go and pick up the baby and hold it and look down into its little face, just as if it were alive. I should have seen trouble coming but I thought it was cute the way little Marybeth was totally absorbed and totally committed to “her baby” being wrapped up in the swaddling blanket. She was the persona of the first Mary, looking longingly into the face of her infant; the only trouble was Marybeth was a cow, not Mary. Oh well, it didn’t matter, everything would be fine when the play started and Marybeth was in the cow costume.
The play started on cue and everything was going great. Somewhere during the unfolding script the baby Jesus was brought in and paced into the little cradle. Marybeth, unscripted and not according to plan, went over and wanted to stand a little closer to the baby. Carter, seeing her make her move to get closer, edged in a little more himself and looked at her warily. Marybeth edged closer and closer, wanting to claim the prime spot, closet to the baby Jesus. With each six inches closer Carter moved closer and closer from his side. Eventually, the two met and in a classic kind of move we only dream of teaching basketball players, placed his body and his legs in such a position that Marybeth could come no closer. Michael Jordan never made a better screen in his entire life. There was a smug look of satisfaction on Carter’s face. He had beaten Marybeth to the spot closest to Jesus and he knew it and she knew it too. If the look of smug satisfaction was etched on Carter’s face, the look of utter disgust was on Marybeth’s face. She had been edged out from the prime spot next to the baby by her cousin and she didn’t like it one bit.
Everyone was watching with intent interest as the little side drama played out. Little by little the lines the other kids had rehearsed so hard were falling on deaf ears. It was cute. But, suddenly cute began to take a bad turn for the worse. The horse kicked the cow or vice versa. No one exactly remembers who kicked who first. But the kick that followed came back with swift and certain retribution – only a little harder. The kick that followed was even harder yet. Mothers were half off their seats, attempting to stop the quickly deteriorating scene when all of a sudden the kicking erupted into hitting and slapping, crying and screaming. “He kicked me”, screamed the cow, “she hit me” bellowed the horse. One of the moms jumped up and grabbed the cow, carrying her off into the back of the church, wailing erupting from the cow all the way. Knowing the mother of the horse was busy with the play (yes, the kids, professionals all went right on with their lines and with the play as if nothing was happening) so I jumped up and carefully grabbed the horse and took him to the other side of the church. He was screaming and hollering as loud as his cousin the cow was doing so on the other side of the church. After a few minutes of sobbing and weeping the cow and the horse made sobbing pledges of good behavior and were placed back in the play. The fight was over but the peace was tentative and everyone watched with amusement as the horse kept a wary eye on the cow, lest she once again tried to move in on the baby Jesus.
I should have seen it coming all along. The way Marybeth gazed at the baby, and held it in such high esteem and motherly care I should have known no one or nothing had better come between her and the baby.
It was our own little Christmas pageant story and like all Christmas pageant stories has taken on a life of its own.
It has taken me a few years but it suddenly came to me this year. People all over the world, down through the ages have been posturing, and fighting and bellowing and edging and wailing just to be closer to the Christ and our claims not withstanding everyone of us needs to be taken to the back of the room and gently but firmly reminded – Jesus belongs to us all and there is no one of us, individually or as a church who has a right to claim we are closer to Jesus and to block out others from being close to the Lord.
It seems like so many churches want to claim that they and only they possess the truth or the clearest expression of the teaching of Jesus. It seems like so many people want to edge everyone else and place themselves next to the Lord, as if there isn’t room for all.
No one has the right to feel, let alone claim, that they and only they know the Lord.
No one has the right to selfishly claim the spot closest to the baby in the manger or the man he grew up to be.
No one has the right to put others down because their beliefs are inferior to ours.
No one has the right to edge others out from the manger, or the spot on hillside where the Lord would welcome all.
There is room for all, the cow and the horse alike.
There is room for everyone who loves Jesus to claim they are special to Him, yet there is no room for anyone to claim that they and only they are special to him.
God loves us all.
There is room for all of us around the manger.
The “truth” of God takes shape and root in countless ways and one version doesn’t necessarily exclude any or all other versions.
This Christmas come close to the manger, but leave room for others to come close as well.
This Christmas sit next to the Christ child, but leave room for others to come and sit beside Him as well.
This Christmas come to love the Lord and know that his Love is big enough and broad enough for all.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together,
Isa 11:6-7 / NIV
Blessings, and Merry Christmas.
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