Away in a Manger

Above our dining room radiator sits a humble nativity set. Its fragile pieces are carved out of soft wood, and have seen better days. The shepherds' staffs are bent; the lone sheep has lost a leg. The star has come unglued from its place above the manger and now rests sideways on top of the stable. Poor Joseph is nowhere to be found at all, a likely victim of either our dog or our youngest child some years ago. Yet, with all its flaws, I couldn't bear to part with this Christmas decoration. Greg and I received it as an gift at a Christmas-themed engagement party more than 20 years ago, and every year we've displayed it proudly. More than any of my other decorations, its simplicity and humility remind me of the true story of  Christmas.

Jesus came as a helpless babe, born in a smelly barn, to poor rural teenagers. The first guests in his baby register weren't kings, but instead were lowly shepherds. This was God's plan? That the Son of God, the Savior of the World, would arrive in such a plain, ordinary way? Why?

"...Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:6-8)

The humility of his surroundings showcased his mission -- to serve the least and the lost. He didn't come just for kings, he came for shepherds. For garbage collectors. For homeless guys. For me. For you.

If you look closely at our poor little nativity set, you'll see one perfect piece. Jesus. The wee babe still rests peacefully in his straw-lined manger. The paint on his closed eyes and contented smile are still as brilliant as the day we received it. When our daughters were very young, they liked to play with the wooden figurines, but they always handled Jesus with tender care. Even then, they knew that Jesus was special.

The story of Jesus doesn't end with the manger. It doesn't even end with the cross. That's just the beginning. 

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knees should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:9-11)

This Christmas, let's remember that although Jesus came humbly, he lived magnificently, he died victoriously, and he reigns eternally. Hallelujah!

Fete des lumieres

Last weekend marked the annual "Fete des lumieres" (festival of lights) in Lyon. This world-class event draws some three million visitors to Lyon, making an already compact city even more crowded than usual. But the energy and excitement of the celebration creates an atmosphere of camaraderie; "yes, it's hectic and uncomfortable, but we're all in this together!"

The history of the Fete goes way back to the 17th century. Southern France was hit hard by the plague in the 1640s, and the people of Lyon prayed to Mary for deliverance. When the plague ended, the city's leaders vowed to pay tribute to Mary each year. Fast forward two centuries to 1852. On December 8 (the date observed by Catholics as the feast of the Immaculate Conception), a golden statue of the Virgin Mary was placed atop the Basilica Fouviere. Candles lighted the way for a solemn procession from St. John's Cathedral up the steep hill to the Basilica. Every year on December 8, Lyonnaise Catholics light candles and place them in their windows to remember these significant events.

In recent years, the festival has lost most of its Catholic tradition, and has become a very popular -- and very commercial -- spectacle for tourists from all across France, Europe, and beyond. Renowned lighting design companies produce amazing special effects, using buildings as canvases. Lasers, projections, films, fireworks, luminaries, neon lights...every kind of illumination you can imagine is on display, all throughout the city. This year the event lasted for four evenings, and I believe it would take all four to see everything.

We went out three of the four nights and were rewarded with some amazing, jaw-dropping spectacles.  Pictures don't do it justice, but these will have to suffice. If you want to get an idea of how these lighting artists "paint" on buildings, check out this YouTube video from last year's Fete which shows St. John's Cathedral.

Chinese lanterns float atop the trees at the Parc de la Tete D'or

Neon "flowers" reflected in one of Lyon's many fountains

View of the palais de justice across the Saone River

The Basilica Fouviere towers in the distance above buildings in Vieux Lyon

One of the best light shows this year was displayed on adjacent buildings:
Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and the Musee Beaux Arts

Inside the courtyard of Hotel de Ville

The simple beauty of a 10th century Benedictine Abbey