Christmas away from home

Christmas Week 2013

My first Christmas away from home was courtesy of the U.S. Army. I was station in the Canal Zone (this was before we turned it over to Panama). Being in the tropics it didn't feel like Christmas. Being from New England my view of Christmas had been the Currier and Ives scenes of snow, sleighs, and
evergreens.

In Panama there are palms, heat, and the prospects of a white Christmas is zero. I was sad.
Cardboard snowmen, plastic Santas and cotton for snow further dampened my spirits. Some enterprising GI's had parked eight jeeps in front of a tank hooked together with ammo belts to simulate reindeer and a sleigh. There was even a stuffed Santa Claus waving from the tank turret.

By now I was having a real pity party.

On Christmas even I went to the base chapel for a service, There were wreaths, candles and the singing of traditional carols. The chaplain read familiar passage from Luke. My spirit was lifted.
As I left the chapel it dawned on me that the first Christmas night was celebrated in a stable in the desert. Looking up at a star lit sky, I hear 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 a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

Mal Salter
Balboa, CZ