Out of the darkness, A light for the world | Bangkok Post: lifestyle

Back when the world was much younger, but still quite a while after the Bible began, some of our ancestors celebrated Christmas _ the birth of Jesus _ each year when the darkness of winter stopped and the light began to come back.

That glorious tale told through the centuries recounted that their neighbours in Nazareth _ distant cousins really _ told Joseph that they could register him and Mary with the census takers, as they had to go anyway. A tiny gift to the census takers there would be sufficient. Joseph need not fret about having pregnant Mary make that long difficult journey to Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary talked. Maybe it was a good idea. Maybe they didn't have to travel after all. But Mary said to Joseph, "We both have to go ourselves, I believe. I know from all our peoples' old beliefs and legends _ prophecies really. I am convinced in my heart of hearts that the messiah, my baby, must be born in Bethlehem. The angel did not tell us where the child is to be born, but I know we must make the trip. That is the right thing to do. We will be safe."

Thus Joseph, Mary and the neighbours all travelled together for safety's sake by mule, foot or camel, south from Nazareth to Bethlehem town, a day's walk outside of Jerusalem. And, of course, they believed that their special angels rendered them invisible to robbers and brigands along the five day journey. In the old language, "Thus it came to pass" _ Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a cove stable offered to them in desperation by an apologetic kindly inn keeper and his wife. His wife had told him sternly, "How can we possibly turn away a pregnant woman?" Old belief has it that this was really the best the innkeeper could do, but that his wife and her friends, plus the women who came with them from Nazareth, tried to help Mary best as they could with the birth of her child.