December 24
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Since I first viewed Big Bird skating across the ice at Rockefeller Center, I’ve wanted Christmas Eve on Sesame Street to be part of my Christmas Eve ritual, just as much as a celebration of the last Salvation Army kettle counted, and a candlelight Christmas Eve worship gathering. Having been retired for a few kettle seasons, we no longer have the sigh of relief when the final bucket was tallied, and this Christmas, in-person gatherings for this sacred night are off limits – thanks, Corona virus. That leaves Christmas Eve on Sesame Street.
I tried to encourage the lovely Madelyn Simone and the delightful and determined Elizabeth Holiday to watch with me, but even in their willingness to humor Nana, they just didn’t get as excited about it as I did. I love the scenes from New York City, and the sweet retelling of O. Henry’sGift of the Magi, as Ernie trades his Rubber Duckie to Mr. Hooper for a cigar box for Bert’s paper clip collection, and Bert exchanges his paper clip collection for a soap dish for Rubber Duckie. But my favorite story line is Big Bird’s, as he waits for Santa to arrive.
Christmas Eve serves as a reminder to me of the power of keeping vigil. As we stand in the stillness of the evening, with a flickering flame of the candle providing a light in the darkness, we wait as did Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, and Simeon and Anna. Instead of waiting for Santa Claus, we wait as we mark again the coming of Christ to the world. “Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free,” John Wesley pleaded. “Born a child and yet a king.”
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-7
No comments:
Post a Comment