December 20-25
It is my first Christmas away from home courtesy of the U.S. Army. I’m stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. My view of Christmas has been the Currier and Ives picture of snow, sleighs and evergreens.
Here there are cardboard snowmen, plastic wreaths and palms. Some soldiers have parked a tank behind eight jeeps connected by ammo belts simulating reigns. A blown up Santa waves from the open tank turret. Bar Humbug.
Twinkling lights from bushes and Christmas carols blaring on every radio station
doesn't help. It is 80 degrees man. It hardly feels like Christmas. I'm lonely.
On Christmas Eve I go to the Chapel in khaki trowers and a short sleeved shirt. It is a candle light service with traditional hymns and the familiar story. I exit the chapel into a balmy evening with a star lit sky. Now it hits me-that first Christmas was in a desert. Probably on a night just like this one. I get the message loud and clear.
“Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
(Luke 2:11)
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