Confederate Christmas

On Christmas 1958 I took part in the full production of the Christmas Story; the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The play was elaborate with extensive costuming and scenery.  My part was that of one of the wise men and we packed an auditorium seating 1500 people three days in succession.  We were coached by our Drama Teacher to imagine we were the characters we portrayed, which was an easy task on my part, having been raised in the Church.  When I bent my knees before the Christ Child as a member of the powerful Magi of Persia, I nearly wept.  I thought to myself, if I were truly an emperor over vast kingdoms. I would lay all the crowns of the empire before his feet.

The production was stunning to say the least! What made this event so overwhelming by today’s standards is that it took place in a public high school with 2500 students.  Should that same event take place during the Christmas Season 2006, it would bring federal, state and municipal criminal charges, fines and possible jail time.  We should all tell and retell the story of the Christ Child, born in Bethlehem of Judea, since obviously our twenty first century Caesars do not yet comprehend the lesson.  I cannot imagine a better narrative for the story, then the Holy Scripture.