12.7.2011 Living Nativity

Every year my sister's community puts on a live nativity in the glen in their neighborhood.  It is actually quite a big production with numerous cast members and actual livestock, including a camel and a little midget donkey.  For visitors, it is like walking through Bethlehem and as they walk the path through the glen, they eventually come to a stable where Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus sit.  The living nativity is just one of the many events that my sister, Jenny, is involved in putting on.  She asked Marc, Ezra, and me to be one of the holy families for the night. Since it is held outside, there are four holy families that rotate in 45 minute shifts and we were the first of the evening.

It was a very memorable experience portraying Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus.  Every 15 minutes or so the wise men would come and kneel at the manger as portions of Luke 2 were recited.  Experiencing this gave me a greater understanding of the condescension of our Lord, who humbly came to earth as helpless infant.  This article from the December Ensign teaches so clearly how amazing it is that the Great Jehovah came to our world in such a humble way.  Portraying the holy family and watching my innocent and helpless baby gave me a deeper insight into Christmas and the birth of our Savior.  It is something I hope to never forget.