Sheltered

Put the nativity scene back in the box with thick foam around Jesus, the wise-men, and all the sheep. Hoping the foam will protect the figurines from cracks, breaks and mice bites. Part of me desired crawling into the box beside baby Jesus. I questioned, "God do you ever put safety foam around us?"

Questions continued. Or were my answers questions?  "Did Jesus live in foam?"

 Undocumented foreigner while living in Egypt was that little baby Jesus. Government-authorized-killing in his birth place with hopes he would be among the dead was that little baby Jesus. Did all of his male cousins die? Before the age of three a portion of his life was drama, pain and sorrow. He himself lived. For a while.

What about the wise-men?

After hanging out worshiping Jesus giving away their precious gifts they were warned in a dream. "Don't go home the way you came. Find another way. " Major route changes! No click away. Were they costly? Not much to report except they obeyed their dreams, accommodating their plans. Was it annoying?    

At least the sheep can live in foam. Except they keep getting sacrificed for food and washing away sin.

Perhaps real life doesn't require being foam bound. A tune forms from scripture:


 Psalm 121

 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

 3 He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

 5 The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

May this Israeli melody include me too.