Certainly not the time of year for shepherds to be washing their flocks by night ...
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Midd...East-bringing-both-delight-and-distress-video
Ah, but what has December really got to do with the birth of our Creator, Lord, and Saviour anyway ?
The bible certainly doesn't indicate that the birth of our Creator, Lord, and Saviour occurred in December. It instead indicates that it happened at a time when shepherds looked after their flocks out in the field at night ... which ain't in winter !
The bible certainly doesn't mention anything about Jesus being born in a stable either. It merely says there was no room at the inn and that the baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. That is to say, by an animal food box commonly found by a building or road).
The bible certainly doesn't say that there were just three wise men or that they were anywhere near Bethlehem on the night of the birth. It actually says that there were three GIFTS and that the magi (it doesn't say how many of them there were) turned up at the HOUSE (not manger) where the CHILD (not baby) was and that, based upon the fact that they had visited Herod first which resulted in Herod ordering that all the kids under the age of two to be murdered, it may have been anything up to two years before the magi got to give those gifts and their worship.
Etc etc.
Oh well. At least it does say that wise men sought Him out ... and were led to where He was at that time.
That bit is just as true today so I guess there is no harm reflecting on that even during Saturnalia and the rest of the silly season.
Anyhoo, LSCP has just finished watching "Ben Hur" on Blu-ray so I guess it is time to start getting ready for my work Christmas do.
Thank God / hallelujah for holydays, yes ?
regarDS