Posts from — December 2008

When I was a kid it was a common thing for my mom and dad to say “See you in the funny papers” instead of saying “goodbye,” especially when the goodbye might have been emotional. A dash of humor often makes the serious events of life a little easier to deal with, and that’s what I remember about Pam Kumpe when I met her at a writers’ conference at Glorieta, near Santa Fe, in October 2005. After commiserating about empty nest syndrome and our kids (her son, my daughter) who were then in their first semesters of college, Pam regaled us with stories about Macy, her miniature schnauzer. Pam’s endearing and personal humor is evident in her new book, See You in the Funny Papers, and it’s no wonder former Governor Mike Huckabee said the following: “…like Jesus, Pam shares lessons learned from everyday life.” I asked for Pam’s permission to share one of the stories from her book, and she graciously agreed, so here it is-perfect for the Christmas season. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  

“Stealing Baby Jesus”

Christmas is the season for giving, but once someone stole a baby Jesus from a church lawn’s Nativity scene. I don’t understand why anyone would steal baby Jesus. I mean, why not take a wise man? Or a shepherd? Or even Joseph for that matter? We could get more of them, but there’s only one Jesus.

This Jesus figurine was taken from a church in Foreman, Arkansas. Later two men called the pastor and said they’d found it on a gravel road in Oklahoma. The men wanted to return Jesus to the church, but since they had criminal records, they asked to set up a private meeting with the pastor. Now, these men did not take the baby Jesus, but they found him. Or could it be Jesus found them?

According to the Bible, Jesus was hung between two thieves at His crucifixion. One man mocked Jesus, while the other asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus replied to the one wanting to be remembered, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

The above narrative is one of the most touching scenes in the Bible to me. Jesus experienced physical and emotional agony on the cross, yet He listened to the plea of a man on a cross. He assured him he’d be with Him in paradise.

Jesus is the key figure in any Nativity scene, which is why the folks at the church in Arkansas think it’s a miracle that they got their baby Jesus back. They searched for Him, like shepherds hurrying off to find their Savior, and now He’s home again.

How the Jesus figurine ended up on a gravel road in Oklahoma is beyond me. Maybe he fell out of the back of a truck. I just don’t know.

I think that’s how we are. We think we’re taking Jesus along with us until we veer off course, hit a few bumps, and end up lost. Then we remember we haven’t even thought about Jesus for months, until He comes up missing. Actually, He’s stayed right on course; we’re the ones who get stuck out on gravel roads.

I’m glad the figurine was located, and it’s a great reminder for me to think about Jesus more often. I don’t have to search for Him, put His name on a sign, or look for Him on a church lawn, because He is as close to me as my next breath.

Let’s take Him with us, but do strap Him in, because if we get lost, that’s when we’ll need Him most. He will gladly show us the way home so we won’t end up on the wrong road.

Visit Pam’s website: http://www.pamkumpe.com
Read Pam’s blog: http://www.pamkumpe.blogspot.com
Look for Pam’s book at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0615243266
Visit other sites on Pam’s blog tour: http://www.blogtourspot.com/Kumpe-blog-tour/Kumpe-blog-tour-stops/