Was there a WalMart in Bethlehem?

Linda and I did some shopping together today at Sam’s Club and WalMart.  We were shopping for some routine items but also did a little Christmas shopping as well.  As it happened, Linda went one way and I went the other as we sought our particular items.  I have learned that when shopping with Linda like that it is best for me to find my item and then just stand still and let her find me.  It doesn’t work for us to both start looking for each other or we might be a long time in the looking.  One of my clearest memories of my Dad in similar situations with my mother was him standing in the middle of a shopping aisle and calling out “Peg!” … Peg, where are you?”  He would do that  until my embarrassed Mom would show up while at the same time trying to pretend like she didn’t know him.  I have to say though that the approach never failed to re-unite them when they became separated while shopping.  My dad had a very loud voice!

Sam’s Club was busy — WalMart was busier, almost bordering on ridiculous.  I stood in the middle of a main aisle while waiting for Linda to find me and watched the people.  From one end of the store to the other, the aisle was filled with people jostling one another, maneuvering their carts, blocking traffic (aren’t you glad that shopping carts don’t have horns … or are you the type that wishes they did?) and generally appearing to be on the edge of impatience.  Over here I could hear a man who was loudly complaining because a replacement power-cord for his computer was going to cost in excess of 70.00.  Two sales clerks were allowing customers to stand in line at the register while they tried to figure out what they were going to do about covering their break times.  Behind me I could hear two young girls who were giggling and saying “ohhhh he’s hotttt!”   Standing there in my leather jacket I WAS hot.  I’m sure, however, that they were not talking about me.  Two children were fighting in the next aisle, though I could not see them, their taunts could be heard clearly in the mix of noise.  A mom to my left was saying to a whining 6 or7 year old girl, “If you don’t stop right now I’m going to tell Santa not to bring you anything.”  I wonder how many more years she will try to use that threat … and whether it is already impotent because of the wisdom of children.  I closed my eyes and listened for about 30 seconds to the sound of shuffling feet, voices, a crying baby and the music of the public address system. 

In that half a minute I wondered if it was anything like this in Bethlehem 2000 years ago.  Certainly there was not a WalMart, to be sure, but perhaps it does sound like what Mary and Joseph might have heard as they made their way through the streets of Bethlehem looking for a place to stay. 

Bethlehem was crowded due to the census.  Apparently rooms were in short supply … even more scarce was a place with some privacy for a woman who was soon to deliver a child.  I suspect that like WalMart, everyone was intent on their own purposes and was a little put out by the crowds as they had to jostle their way through the streets to get to their destination or accomplish their tasks.

But, in the providence of God, there in the midst of the busy city, Mary and Joseph found a quiet, private place to be alone away from the bustling crowd.  And there in the stillness of the stable, uncared for and unnoticed by anyone but the heavenly hosts, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe became flesh in the form of a human baby … so that He could save His people from their sins.  I thought of the words:

It was then that Linda found me and we went to find some candles, picking up an area rug on the way.

I wondered, though, how many of those caught in the hustle and bustle and jostling in WalMart had even an inkling of what was going on… even the reason they are in those aisles to begin with.  It’s not about the economy, stupid, … it’s about the birth of the Savior!

Dear reader, make sure that you find a quiet, private place somewhere in the next few days.  And, away from the crowd, open your heart and let it be filled with awe and wonder about the enormity of what Jesus did for you when He came to Bethlehem.