Bethlehem Repair Shop - a reflection for Christmas

 When the world all seems too much, I give myself a break by watching the BBC’s  “the Repair Shop”

If you haven’t seen it, I can thoroughly recommend it as a life-affirming programme! People bring a ‘treasured object’ which is broken or simply worn by the passage of time, and various experts set to work to mend, restore and, well, repair the object. The highlight is the moment when the person returns for their toy, or furniture, or whatever, and the utter delight on their faces as the memories of what that object meant comes flooding back.

Often they want to touch, handle, even stroke their possession: there is something about the physical object that makes all the emotions flow. I usually need a tissue at that point.

No amount of telling the story or hearing the history can compare with the sight, smell, sound touch of that thing – right there in their arms.

 

God knows this is how people work.

John 1: 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

God is with us – in the flesh, in the arms of Mary, or nestled in the straw of a feeding trough. Here is the sight, smell and sound of love come to live among us.

 

Maybe the next time you see a depiction of the stable scene in Bethlehem, you will think of the Repair Shop. And not only because the Repair Shop reminds us of the importance what theologians call ‘incarnation’ and the rest of us call ‘stuff made real’.

 

I think the Bethlehem stable was the first Repair Shop.

It was where God came, in a barn, to offer us renewal and repair.

Where angels sing of the joy of fresh starts and impossible things made real.

Where we come, forlorn, broken, in need of loving care – and find the one who made us, ready to take the time and effort to re-make us, heal us, love us and make us shine with the glory of new beginnings.

Where Jesus, taught by Joseph the carpenter, will smooth us off, bind us together, feed us, and look on our cherished new selves with love.

 

God’s love and healing is the greatest gift this Christmas. Have a blessed one. Amen.

Comments

Rebecca said…
Thanks for sharing this Ruth. Given me a jumping off point for my Christmas sermn!
God bless you this Christmas!
Rebecca
24 December 2021 at 11:37
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