Hope Fills the Empty Places

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Hope Fills the Empty Places

by Sandra Gilmore

It wasn’t anybody’s fault. It was an oversight, a misplacement. Still, there was no gift. Was there any hope to fill the empty spot?

We couldn’t find the third Wise Man’s gift. The other two were supplied with something to hold and thereby something to portray the gifts from the Wise Men in our local drive-through Nativity scene. In front of haybales in a muddy ballfield, dressed in costumes assembled from brightly colored cast-offs, who would notice? And who were we trying to fool anyway? This was a portrayal, a re-enactment of Nativity. No one expected this to be authentic. My panic from not being able to find the third gift was distracted by my attention needed elsewhere. My director-duties kept me in constant motion, everywhere at once checking details, fetching props or pins, and communicating what was next. I had to shift focus to the next crisis. They’d figure out something, somehow.

Each station was made ready. Luke chapter 2 gave us the narrative and set the scene. Caesar had sent out a decree that “all the world should be taxed” so our Caesar actor stood regally with his paper scroll as soldiers stood guard with plastic swords. Close by Caesar, our nod to Bethlehem’s marketplace came alive with vivid colors and variegated shadows. Pins customized costumes for vendors, shoppers, and animal caretakers. Baskets on tables held promise of being filled while fake food looked good enough to eat, including faux bread from a fake flame-flickering oven! Animal-shaped plyboard painted black shadowed live ones in real hues. Moms with tots in tow pretended to banter with vendors offering wares. Craftsmen mimicked motions of ancient trades.

Around a fire, our so-called shepherds carefully took note as masquerading angels delivered the blessed message. Luke 2:10-14 gives their proclamation, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

Sheet-clad Mary and Joseph admired their swaddled son under an unusual twinkling star. The star beckoned the Wise Men from the East who imported their gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When I circled back to check on the progress for a gift replacement, the defining moment of the evening (at least to me) greeted me. I was awe-struck, simply halted despite the other commotion.

There he stood, our dressed-up Wise Man, with empty hands cupped and extended: bare but bearing tribute; blank and yet blanketed with gratitude and submission. The other fellows had some sort of container to hold their offerings. This one bowed his head, cupped his hands, and fully offered his humble adoration.

We weren’t a theatrical production company. The crooked crowns, homemade-plyboard-shadow animals, or the blue jean hems peeping out from underneath pinned together costumes made that very clear. Our earnest goal was to keep Christ in Christmas, to worship Immanuel (meaning God with us), and to share our worship with our neighbors as they drove by. And there it was, the worshiping I mean. From a humble gesture of adoration, a mistake became a mission, the hollow became hallowed, the hopeless became hopeful. Yes, indeed, they had figured it out somehow.

About The Author Sandra Gilmore serves the Lord as wife, mom, and encourager, mostly through writing and speaking, occasionally through cooking, rarely through anything athletic and only because of the mercy and grace of Jesus. You can reach her by email: tandsgilmore@yahoo.com or her website: www.sandragilmore.org

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