Lost in Translation

The day before yesterday we hosted a walk through children's nativity at our church. Eight different scenes depicting important parts of the birth of Christ were set up. Our teens and children (and a few adults) acted out these different parts of the Christmas story while visitors were led through each scene in turn by our "Anna's".

The only outdoor scene (because we live in the snow covered north country!! brrr!) depicted Mary and Joseph being turned away by the Innkeeper when finally arriving in Bethlehem. We were fortunate to have live animals this year for our outdoor scene. A donkey, a goat and a sheep.

Dan was one of the shepherds (but that's a whole different story! ha!) Anyway... the donkey was adorable. The goat was full of energy and friendly. The sheep, well, the sheep was just odd.

Since I was a part of the production, I didn't get to go outside until it was all over. I went out to see how Dan had made out and while we stood in the cold talking about our successful (over 200 people visited) production, I observed the animals. A pen of cedar poles had been built by several men to contain the sheep and goat throughout the evening while the donkey was led back and forth by Joseph and Mary.

The goat, even after two hours, was still begging for attention at the fence. The donkey was being hugged and stroked by even more young hands. The sheep stood in the middle of the pen. While Dan and I talked, I continued to observe the scene before me, finally saying to Dan, "What is wrong with that sheep? It hasn't moved all the while I've been out here."

Dan informed me that the sheep had barely moved all night. It stood in the same spot, not moving, not turning it's head, not blinking. It stood. It stared. What was with that sheep? Was it timid? Downright frightened? Dumb? Cold? Having a bad day? Missing it's sheep mates?

It was the oddest and funniest thing. Many people had commented about it throughout the night, even to the point of asking if that sheep was real. I am still chuckling to myself thinking about it... it was kind of like trying to get the Buckingham Palace Guard to crack a smile.... we could have stood on our heads, told hilarious jokes, burned the church down, but still, I think there would have been nothing. Hello? Anybody home in there?

What a weird sheep. Are they all like this?

So what's my point? I'm not sure, other than being sure that there is something lost in translation for us 21st century American Christians. The Bible refers to us as sheep numerous times and in many contexts. Most of us these days do not know sheep. Our contact is limited to the occasional live nativity scene or petting zoo.

The sheep "statue" that I met Saturday night will cause me to ponder things anew each time I crack open my Bible in the years to come. How am I like that sheep? Do I freeze up in unfamiliar territory? Do I let my fears immobilize me when I am alone and without the support of my flock? Am I just plain dense when it comes to living life? Do I complain about the "cold" even when I'm wearing a warm coat and standing by the fire (living in America, do I really have any idea what suffering is like)? Do I turn a good day bad by my attitudes (in the sheep's case: becoming a laughing stock instead of relishing in the privilege it was to be a participant in reenacting the Lord's birth)? Sheep.... funny, foreign, odd creatures. Me?

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, who came, lived, and then died - led like a sheep to the slaughter to redeem us to himself, may we also remember that he rose again and lives and loves us even today on December 24th, 2007. Happy birthday Jesus. Thank you for revealing yourself to me. Thank you for loving this dumb obstinate sheep and sacrificing yourself for me as the precious Lamb of God.

Thank you for the privilege it is to serve you.