“The Nativity creche is an important sign: it reminds us that we are part of a wondrous adventure of salvation in which we are never alone…Spread this message and keep this tradition alive. They are a gift of light for our world, which so badly needs to be able to continue to hope.”
– Pope Leo XIV
Of all my sins that I rationalize, the one I rationalize the easiest is gossiping. After all, I am a storyteller. I tell stories every week. So, it can be easy to hear something and tell myself that it’s not only “right and just” to share this story but also necessary to pass it along. I’d like to believe I’ve matured and grown in virtue, but there are still times I retell a story that doesn’t do anything good for the world.
Earlier this month, I heard a story that I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my wife. “I can’t wait to get home,” I texted. “Do I have a story for you!” While Tricia has worked for our organization longer than I have, we rarely work together on the same projects. However, we were planning an upcoming Advent retreat for leaders, and we had set aside time that evening to finish up our preparations. After dinner, we retreated to our home office to get down to work and begged my wife to tell her the juicy tale I had been holding onto all day. Tricia stopped me saying, “Nope, I’ve gotta show you a story I want to use for the retreat first.” She played a clip from The Chosen called “The Shepherd” that she wanted to use in the retreat. As I watched the beautiful rendition of the shepherds receiving the Good News from an angel and then running to find the newborn king in a stable, I was mesmerized. The clip ends with the shepherds running throughout Bethlehem repeating, “People must know.”
Tricia asked me what I thought of the clip and then prompted, “Ok, what’s this story you were so desperate to tell me?” Suddenly, it wasn’t so juicy, and I couldn’t stop hearing the phrase, “People must know.” In life, leadership, and especially discipleship, what are the stories I am emphatic about sharing? Do they bring the Advent themes of hope, joy, love, or peace into the world? Am I running to announce the shortcomings of others or glimpses of redemption? Our entire faith tradition has survived generations on stories of God’s goodness, especially in the midst of the most challenging times. How do I carry on that tradition?
I decided that for Christmas, perhaps I should give the Lord the gift of keeping the less-than-savory stories to myself, and rather, be generous in sharing the stories that give glory to the news that people really must know. Prayers that in this Christmas Season and the new year to come, we all be the bearers of the greatest story ever told. Merry Christmas!
PS – If you want to check out the clip, WATCH IT HERE - you won’t be disappointed!
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