In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria). And everyone went to their own town to register. (Luke 2:1-3)
I sat in Dot’s living room as she fetched a picture she wanted to show me.
“I’ve looked up the artist and he’s quite famous”
Unfortunately, I had to tell Dot that her picture was a print and she didn’t own a priceless painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. I asked whether she realised that the painting was of a biblical scene. She didn’t because it just looks like a snowy town scene with everyone piling into the pub. I pointed out that in the middle of the confusion is a lady riding a donkey dressed in a blue cloak. She is so small that you might easily miss her. Pieter Bruegel was painting his version of the census in Bethlehem.
Luke mentions the big political players; Caesar Augustus and Quirinius the governor. Men who definitely would be noticed. Men whose decisions could make everyone pack their bags and leave their homes. Surprisingly, Luke’s action then shifts to an ordinary couple making a journey in some inconsequential corner of the Empire. Here, small as it is, is God’s good news for the entire world.
We have the big news stories which are often the bad news stories. The good news seems harder to find and harder to see. I’ve been trying to find the good news stories of the past year. India has seen a 22% decline in the maternal death rate. Rwanda has introduced universal eye-care. Herat in Afghanistan has been declared free of explosive devices and Scotland has started to give free sanitary products to students. Yes, there is still evil, darkness and despair in our world but these smaller stories make a huge difference to those whose lives they touch.
I remember talking to a colleague who works tirelessly to raise awareness about the climate crisis. I asked him why he doesn’t give up in the face of huge apathy. He replied that “the small things give me hope”.
Love often comes to us in small things that are actually big things in disguise. We need to be attuned to see these glimpses of the kingdom. It doesn’t mean that everything is OK just that the worst thing in God’s economy is not the last thing. If we see these flickers of love’s light and join them up then we have a sky-full of stars.
Pause this Christmas Eve and notice the small, loving pieces of good news in your life and give thanks for them. May they light your way as you continue to work for peace and justice.
(Image by Pieter Bruegel the Elder - Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15451997)
Suzanne Nockels