Where is the Line to See Jesus?

I’m sure all of us have been to a mall someday. I’m sure each of us has stood in line for something or the other. But very rarely I think we would have stood in the wrong line. But there is a possibility that in the season of Christmas we might be in the wrong line. In the year 2010 Becky Kelly sang a beautiful Christmas song titled “Where’s the line to see Jesus?” the song turned out to be a hit I believe. 

Christmas time was approaching
Snow was starting to fall
Shoppers choosing their presents
People filling the mall

Children waiting for Santa
With excitement and glee
A little boy tugged my sweater
Looked up and asked me

Where's the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday
Why don't we see Him more?

The words of a little boy were the inspiration for this song. It so happened that the family had gone to the mall for their Christmas shopping. Just like in many malls in during Christmas season one can see small children waiting for Santa, here too was a similar story. But unlike many other kids this little boy asked his parents “Where's the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store? If Christmas time is His birthday why don't we see Him more?

This message came from a little boy who needed to wish the birthday boy first. Probably he failed to realize that Jesus was just the reason and nothing more than that. He failed to realize that Santa had replaced Jesus and if not Santa the gifts and the food did the job, just like in any other birthday we wait to check out the food served or wait for the party to begin.

Sometimes the most profound thoughts come from the mouth of the simple and the ignorant but very often we decide to shun them. Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem but we decide to celebrate him in a huge function with lots of food and plenty of enjoyment. Though there is nothing wrong in doing this, we must remember that the reason for the season is Jesus and we’ve got to stand in the correct line if we want to wish him. Standing in other lines will only lead us away from the true spirit of Christmas. Therefore today it not about deconstructing Christ but about deconstructing the way we celebrate Christmas. It does not mean that we stop enjoying, dancing, making sweets etc but it means that we need to keep in mind the person because of whom we are doing all this and only then will Christmas make sense. So now let me continue the song.

As I stood in amazement
At this message profound
I looked down to thank him
He was no where around

The little boy at the mall
Might as well have had wings
As the tears filled my eyes
Thought I heard him sing

Where's the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday
Why don't we see Him more?

Where's the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me
Santa Claus brought me presents
But Christ gave His life for me

Let us see if we are in the correct line and if not let’s make the change. Let us remember that Jesus was born to free us. Let us celebrate this freedom and enjoying this beautiful season of Christmas by doing all we can to make it special but let us not compromise on the birthday boy and make sure we wish Him and invite him for the party we will have in his honor. Let us involve him in our preparations, may be through the little sweets we prepare, through the cribs we make or any other thing we will do this Christmas. May all our endeavors this Christmas help us come more closer to each other and to the birthday boy Jesus Christ. 

Cl Felix Almeida