CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

"I AM SORRY I RAN FROM YOU" .

I AM STILL RUNNING FROM THAT KNOWLEDGE, THAT EYE, THAT LOVE FROM WHICH THERE IS NO REFUGE.
FOR YOU MEANT ONLY LOVE, AND LOVE, AND I FELT ONLY FEAR, AND PAIN.
SO ONCE IN ISRAEL LOVE CAME TO US INCARNATE, STOOD IN THE DOORWAY BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, AND WE WERE ALL AFRAID" (Teaching a Stone to Talk, Annie Dillard).

THE CLOWN OF GOD, by Tomie de Paola

Giovanni watched in amazement until the singing was over.
Then the church emptied of all people and was darkened except for the bright candles surrounding the Lady and the Child.
Giovani moved closer. The Child in the Lady's arms seemed so serious, so stern.
"Oh, Lady," said Giovanni. "I wish I had something to offer, too. Your child seems so sad, even with all these beautiful gifts. But  wait - I used to make pople smile".
Giovanni opened his bag and shook out his old costume. Then he put on his clown face, bowed, rolled out the little rug, and began to juggle.
First the sticks.
Then the plates.
Next he twirled the plates on the sticks.
And then the clubs and rings...
The Brother Sexton, who was coming in to lock the doors, saw Giovanni juggling. He was horrified.
"Father Master," he cried, rushing off to get the priest. "A sacrilege. Come quickly!"
But Giovanni didn't hear or notice him.
"And now", said Giovanni, smiling at the face of the Child,
"First the red ball, then the orange...
"Next the green, blue, and violet."
Around and up they went until they looked like a rainbow.
"And finally", cried Giovanni, "the Sun in the Heavens!"
The gold ball flew up and around and around, higher and higher.
Giovanni had never juggled so well in all his life.
Higher and higher, faster and faster. A blaze of colour filled the air. It was magnificent!
Giovanni's heart was pounding.
"For You, sweet Child, for You!" he cried.
Then suddenly, his old heart stopped. And Giovanni fell dead to the floor.
The priest and Brother Sexon came rushing in.
Stooping over old Giovanni, the priest said, "Why, the poor clown is dead. May his soul rest in peace".
But the Brother Sexton backed away, and with his mouth wide open, he stared at the statue of the Lady and her Holy Child.
"Oh, Father," he said, pointing. "Oh, Father, look!"
The Child was smiling, and in His Hand He held the golden ball.

NICOLAE GRIGORESCU

Of all the rights of women,
the greatest is to be a mother. (Lin Yutang)

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