RUNNING NUMBERS

Caspar complained the whole trip.  Never mind that a woman about to give birth was traveling nearby on a donkey to a strange town where she wouldn’t even have a room. There was a census and much like the book of Numbers, there was no dearth of murmuring.  Everybody had to be counted.   Melchior tried to tell him that the Christ child would set it all right -the bitter water would be sweet, the manna and quail would come from heaven, and on and on.  But Caspar could find no joy, the sugar was too sweet and the donut too round, as far as he was concerned.  Finally, Balthazar scolded Caspar, “Because of grumbling, an 11 day journey became 40 years of cursed wandering in the wilderness for the Israelites -shall we wander 40 years in the wilderness looking for the Christ child?”  Caspar bit his lip, “I’m thinking.”

WESLEY’S QUESTION:  Do I grumble and complain constantly?

SCRIPTURE:  In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. (Luke 2:1-6)

FOOLISH WISDOM: Caspar was always complaining about his life -not only to his friends and family and anybody who would listen, but of course, to God as well.  If only he had more possessions, he would be happy.  If only he had more health, he would be content.  All of these dreams would manifest of course when he won the lottery.  So, every night he prayed “Dear Lord, please let me win the lottery.  Please, please, please.”  Every day and night for 40 days, he prayed and prayed.  Finally, the clouds parted and descended like a dove, the voice like a sound of thunder, “Caspar, you have to buy a ticket!”

MUSIC SELECTION

In the Bleak Midwinter arranged by Mark Patterson

© 2021 Birnamwood Publications

Laura Hesse, piano

The music is presented with permission under One License X-732009.