Week 3: Joy - Wednesday

So much of my joy at this time of year is wrapped up in parcels of Christmas past. Though some of the stories had sharp edges, all of them bring me a quiet joy.

Yet there is one story that never quite makes it into my treasury of Christmas joy. I can only guess that it is there, buried somewhere underneath all the cookie tins, wrapping paper and ornaments of this season.

In the 21st century, The Story, the one that is the ‘reason for the season’ has become a nice but well worn tale that can hardly be believed.

It struggles to be heard over the clamour of the buyers and the sellers. Obscured by the tinsel and the trimmings, it struggles to be relevant amongst the devoted and doubtful alike.

I too have I've heard The Story so many times and in so many ways, that it has lost much of its wonder,. Or perhaps I'm just too old to believe in it all any more.

You know how it goes – there is a mother, a father, a baby, some shepherds, a host of angels, some astronomers/astrologers from afar, and all the rest - and they all meet up with each other in some stable, or maybe it was a cave, or just a lean-to.

And oh, I almost forgot! There was a Star, a great big star!!

Once upon a time there were people who were not nearly so savvy and sophisticated as we.
Once upon a time there were people who treasured the simple gifts and looked up into the night sky in wonder.
Once upon a time there were people just like us, seeking light and hope, peace and joy, and love.

What would it be like stand side by side with them now and together look up into the night sky...

Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light.

(chorus from "We three Kings of Orient Are"; John Henry Hopkins, Jr. 1857)

©2025 April Hoeller