Louisiana Voice

By John Sachs

Oh golly. What to write about? It seems unfair to ask a novice writer to come up with a commentary for publication on Christmas Eve. All the good, not so good, and just plain awful Christmas theme stories have, for the most part, already been written. At least those that any publication would dare to run. Hopefully Louisiana Voice will tolerate one more kinda off-the-wall version. Mine.

As some of you have gleaned by now, I often think about and view subjects from a somewhat different perspective than many. And the Christmas story for me is no different. I wonder why God chose when, where, how, and yes, even why He sent his son to Earth. This is my take on the matter.

First, I think God is alive in heaven seated on the 50 yard line in the plush seats reserved for college presidents, politicians, or franchise owners which gives Him a really grand view of the game being played on Earth. And He is frustrated. No, actually He is ticked-off. Things are just not going according to plan.

God is watching us on Earth playing the game and darned few of us appear to understand the rules that He gave us to play by, and even fewer are following those rules. And God mutters:

Just look at ‘em. How can they make such a mess of the few simple rules I gave them to play by? Not only that, but I told them what the rules were in every way I knew how to do it. I told them the rules in their native language—and they didn’t pay attention.

Then I got Moses to tell them in spectacular fashion what I wanted them to do. No, not just spectacular fashion, but in miraculous ways. I spoke to Moses through a burning bush that was not consumed by the fire. When Moses told folks that and used a few miracles I gave him to use for emphasis, even that didn’t seem to impress them.

Then again through Moses I gave them 10 important rules to follow that I etched in rock tablets with my own finger—and they didn’t pay attention. By this time I was getting really frustrated, even angry at them. I thought what a bunch of insensitive dolts I’ve created. Maybe the word dumb better describes them.

Then I pulled out all the stops. I went for what I just knew would get their attention. I miraculously sent my own Son to tell them what I expected of them. I named Him Jesus. His name means Salvation and I named Him that so that everyone would understand that to gain salvation they had to do as my boy Jesus instructed. I made His birth itself a miracle.

I raised Him among the very people that He was to teach so that they would feel that He really understood them and could relate to them. I told Him what to say. I taught Him to speak directly and firmly like when He confronted the money changers in the temple. I taught Him to use parables to try and get Our message across. I gave Him some really neat miracles to perform that were sure to give Him credibility at best and at least help Him draw a good crowd at His next show. Maybe I should say … at His next appearance. Whatever.

And I admit that Jesus did a pretty good job of getting My message and rules out there. He made much more progress than Moses did. Of course, I helped Jesus even more than I did Moses so I’m not faulting Moses and his efforts. But still, even to this day, too many folks on Earth either haven’t heard My rules, learned My rules, and certainly aren’t playing by My rules. And I don’t like that, not one bit.

I’m gonna give them a little while longer to hear, learn, and follow My rules. But if they don’t shape up, I’m going to send Jesus back, but not to praise and congratulate them like they think He is going to do. He is going to kick some—well, He is going to get their attention like never before.

All I’m asking is that they love Me with all their heart, soul, and mind and also love their neighbor as much as they love themselves. It’s that simple. Love one another. Quit killing each other. Take care of one another. Don’t be greedy. Smile. And from time-to-time thank Me for what I’ve done for you.

To me, that’s the real Christmas story. And I’m sticking to it!