A Nativity Critique

A friend from church called me last night to see if I could help set up our church nativity. I reported in at 9 o'clock sharp this morning...dressed in swaddling clothes...ready to do some shepherding. Cold, windy, drizzling snow.

I was going to use just our set-up as my Blip, but then decided to see what the other churches had erected.

A critique...going clockwise...starting in the left top corner.

1. This is in front of my church. If you look closely...our building is clearly superior. You could say our stables is more stable. My friend Doug is a stickler for details. When he does something...he does it right. But, look closely at the wood cut-outs. Mary and Joseph were purchased from a pattern company, but they were all out of shepherds. So...one of our teenagers laid down on the floor, and they traced him. Aaron (the preachers kid) will forever be the shepherd. One year, we had a real sheep, and a real donkey. Right during Sunday morning services, a neighbor barged in and yelled..."YOUR DONKEY IS RUNNING ACROSS LINDEN ROAD!" Oh my. Funny...but not funny.

2. It's not life size. The building looks like it could fall down. The electric cord is hanging down in back, and that camel on the far right side of the building is...is...is...shall we say...less than perfect. But, I do give them credit for trying.

3. That's a good star, and a nice building. Plus...I like the size of the figurines. Full size...life-like. They had many pieces...including a cow just out of my picture. But, if you put it in Large...the donkeys ear is covered with duct tape. For me...that just ruined the whole effect. DUCT TAPE? Since I was already wrapped in my swaddling clothes...I froze like a statue next to the wise men. After 30 minutes...somebody else came to take a picture. I waited...I waited...then blurted out..."HEY...HOW YA DOIN?" I don't think they thought I was a wise man..maybe just a wiseguy.

4. Another bad building, but with some good sheep. And...where and what is the light pointing at? Speaking of pointing...even if it's Jesus...what kind of baby...just hours or days old...is pointing at something?

There you are...
a critique of the mangers.
Hope the churches don't see it...
I could be in danger.