“Five more minutes”, was my comment on a recent retreat with my friend Ron. I realized that whenever I thought I was finished my morning prayer, sitting for and extra five minutes would keep me from jumping too fast to my next thing.

It was in that extra five minutes that I saw why I’ve had trouble connecting with the Christmas story this year. I connected the quote in the margin with the following idean “Celebrity”, the Winter 2011 edition of Lapham’s Quarterly.

In his opening essay he makes this wry comment; “[Celebrity degrades] the distinction between the life courageously lived and the life heroically publicized. Because the lesson of an exemplary life unfolds over a period of time that doesn’t fit between the Viagra commercial and the top-of-the hour station break….”

The “celebrity baby” isn’t the story I need, it’s the whole life of the person that unfolded over 33 years and continues in our lives today. The birth happened once but His life-giving presence works itself out over our lifetimes.

A Prayer for Today

As we look into the face of the Babe of Bethlehem,
the face of Defenceless love,
in your mercy look upon your troubled world:
fear and violence, homelessness and pollution,
grief and anxiety stalk it.
Move the hearts of governments and peoples
to use your gifts of wealth and skill
to build your kingdom of love,
where we shall live free from cruelty, neglect and fear,
free to look into the face of every person with welcome.
You are among us, Lord as you were
in the homeless babe in the stable.
As we come face to face with eternal Goodness,
May the human spirit be renewed.
(#99 Celtic Prayers For Life Today Ray Simpson, Kevin Mayhew)