Winter Holiday.
That's what it's called in
the year 3016, but Rod Lightning read in a history e-book that it was
once called Christmas! Rod loved the sound of that word better!
Some people that called themselves "followers of Christ" still
called it that... Rod assumed that the "Christ" in
"Christmas" referred to the one they followed.
"Mom?"
Rod never felt even a little funny calling his adoptive parents,
"mom" or "dad". They were the only parents he really
remembered. His own parents disappeared
years ago in a freak lightning storm at his father's laboratory.
"Yes, Rod. What is
it?" Mrs. King was putting out the rare, antique nativity scene as
she did every year. Apparently, the centerpiece of the nativity was a
baby in a feeding box for animals. It made no sense to Rod. He knew his
adoptive parents were also followers of Christ, so he decided to ask his
mom about "Christmas".
"I know you've tried
to explain it to me before, and I'm sorry I wasn't interested... but
could you tell me again about Christmas? What was it like when you were
little?"
Mrs. King sat down beside
Rod and tapped on the side of his DataPad still in it's pouch. You
have a copy of the Bible in there, now - don't you?"
Rod felt flush and turned
a couple of shades of red. After the trouble he had in school from Dr.
A.R. Gant, Rod tried to keep the Bible program a secret.
"Ye-yes, I do. Eh,
why? I just want to know what Christmas was like!" Rod
was a little defensive, but he was immediately was sorry for his
reaction.
"Well, I could tell
you what Christmas was like when I was little.." Mrs. King started
"but I think it is more important for you to know why Christmas
started. It isn't about the presents and the Holiday Trees. You
know, you out grew Santa Claus a long time ago. It's time you learned
the truth about Christmas. I'll tell you my fuzzy memories about my
childhood, later. Right now, you can find out everything you need to
know by doing a little reading..."
Rod pulled the DataPad out
and looked at the TST Button (Time-Space Transferance).
"This thing always makes me nervous." He said thinking about
his past trip into the Vortex.
Activating the Bible
program, Rod asked, "What is Christmas about?" With
that, Rod pressed the TST button and felt himself get sucked out of his
room, his house, his neighborhood... and his time...
Rod Lightning found
himself on a sand dune looking out on a sleepy little town illuminated
by a single star.
|
Luke 2:1-20 In those days Caesar
Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the
entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place
while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his
own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the
town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of
David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went
there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him
and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came
for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out
in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to
them,
"Do not be afraid. I bring you
good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is
Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the
heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and
gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's
go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the
Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary
and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they
had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told
them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what
the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things
and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which
were just as they had been told. |
