Away in a Manger

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head..."

The manger. Such an integral symbol of Christmas. As long as people have been displaying Christmas creches, the scenes have included this small hay-filled box in which the baby gently rests his head. Often, they seem perfectly proportioned to the infant's dimensions; the straw rests in a grassy halo around his shining crown as he outstretches his arms to bless the world. The manger is almost like a baby sized throne. How angelic, what serenity, the picture of the child reposing so gently as he takes his first breaths.Yet also, how romanticized.

The word manger means feeding trough. A place where animals eat. The Bible doesn't tell us what the Christmas manger looked like. The Gospel writer and the angels only say it was a "manger".

All the mangers I have seen were messy. The hay was unevenly lumped. It had a distinct earthy scent. They were rectangular, not square, to allow multiple animals to eat out of them at once. They were not necessarily in the middle of the barn. Some were built against walls. In context of the story of Jesus, this idea causes the manger to take on a new meaning. Was Jesus a large baby or was he small? If small, the hay probably enveloped him. It probably scratched his face. Clearly, this is not the ideal place for a newborn baby.

The symbol of the manger is an illustration of the Holy Family's humble circumstances. Their poverty. God's love. He did not intervene. He did not stall his son's birth so that he could be born in a more respectable locale.

Why would he do this? For Us. He wanted to show us the depths of his love.

Christmas prayers and carols mention this. They remind us what this act meant. But when we hear it, do we think about what it means?

The manger. Is there any place more lowly and uncomfortable for a newborn King? A place more inconvenient for a mother post-labor, than in a barn with no soft place to lay? A more worrisome spot for a concerned father to look on at the birth of his son?

I cannot think of one.

As I celebrate Christmas this year, I'm going to remember that rough feeding trough. The first bed for our savior was not a tailored throne. It was a vessel from which animals ate.

"And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

"The Best of The Missy Times" is now in print!

In this issue:

"The Missy Times Says Good-bye"
"No Pulitzer Prize But..."
"Maryland Man is Mr.Guest Writer"
The best articles of...
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
The best ads
The best pictures
The best headlines

This is it

                                

This is it "Missy Times" readers. The prelude to all preludes, the beginning of the end.

This announcement is a heads-up to let you know that the upcoming issue of The Missy Times will be the last, closing chapter in the newsletter's seven year tenure.

Although this is a sad turn of events, it's also a timely one. I started The Missy Times at age eight, and now, at fifteen, I'm entering tenth grade and moving on to new writing adventures, including taking an AP English Language class and working towards getting published in other local publications.

I am currently collecting feedback for the final edition; therefore anything you would like to contribute is greatly appreciated. Things I'm looking for include: a few comments on how you started getting The Missy Times, what your favorite part was about The Missy Times, the title or subject of a memorable story you read in The Missy Times, and your reaction to The Missy Times' retirement. No need to be lengthy-- just mail or email or even telephone one or two sentences by this Friday, July 5th. That leaves you the whole week to think about it!

Please support the MT, because after this, the "CLOSED" sign is going up and it'll be no more.

More details regarding The Missy Times' departure to follow.

Beaver VFD Hosts Race, Editor Runs it in 26:41

On Saturday, June 1st, the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department hosted its 12th annual 5k/ 10k race. In the 5k, the 348 registered runners, a record number for the event, the largest of its kind in Beaver County, ranged from ages 3 to 73. The winner of the race was Jaron Martin (no city listed), 20, who finished with a lightning time of 16:51. Timing chips were provided by Smiley Miles, and post-race snow cones, fruit and water were provided by Luckey Insurance Agency and Pizza Joe's.

     Despite the nascent morning heat, no injuries were reported and all present along the course --a scenic 3.2 mile loop down 2nd Street and River Road--  appeared to have an enjoyable time. "This is such a nice place to run." One runner was overheard remarking.

     The shirts this year were a fluorescent orange with a fire hat logo and words "Beaver Volunteer Fire Department 12th Annual 5k/ 10k Race" Emblazoned on the front.

The course only boasts a few legitimate hills, the worst of which being a steady slope from the East End curve back up to 2nd Street. Thankfully, local citizens George and Joline Atkins were there to step up to the plate --or shall I say road-- and spray fading runners as they trounced the last leg of their journey.

    Runners traveled from miles around to attend the race, from cities such as Slippery Rock, PA to East Liverpool, OH; But the farthest distance, by far, was traveled by a 50 year old woman all the way from Oakwood, Illinois.

This race may not have been a marathon, but on a Saturday morning in small-town America, it was just as exciting, and fun too.

A Stream of Conscious from the Local Book Sale

                                

I went to a book sale this weekend. Here's what went on in my head:

Here I am at the library. Boy, am I excited for this book sale!

Walk into the room, WOAH! My eyes need time to adjust. The colors, the lines, the bookish smell, it's way too overwelming.

Tables everywhere packed with books. Hmmmm, which ones do I choose? Let's look at some titles: Novel set in Amish country, "Land of Lincoln", "The Help", novel set in Amish country, "The History of Surnames", novel set in Amish country, juicy romance, "The Boy in the Striped Panamas", novel set in Amish country, Anne of Green Gables, horror book, novel set in Amish country.... what is with all these novels set in Amish country?!?!
Browsing, browsing, squeeze around the fellow bookworms. La dee da, ooooh, look at that one! Whoops, just kidding not my kind of book. Here's an interesting choice. Do they really write books about that? Geez, I've already been here an hour! Better finish up, oh this one or that?

 Here, just take these four. Alright, I'm ready now. Go up to the table, five dollars? Sure. (Never mind that they're only 75 cents each!) Never let a librarian use her beady eyes to weasel $5 out of you. Rats, I'm going to regret that later.
Gather up my finds, walk out the door. What's that, you say, old lady? "Look at these books! Where did they all COME from?"

Hehe, well, it's not magic, ma'am, it's just a book sale.

The Beaver Area Memorial Library held its annual book sale on Saturday, June 1st. All proceeds benefitted the library (even extra proceeds!). This week they are offering any books you can fit in a bag for $5. Please stop by and support the library.

Vegetables Can Be Sentimental

                                     

The green beans were the clincher. As I stood in the church  kitchen pouring cans of the vegetables into aluminum trays, their subtle smell, dull green color and mushy texture transported me back to another time. I thought about the many occasions, while staying at the Ronald McDonald House last summer, that they had been prepared for me. During the 8 weeks I stayed there, every day a group would come in and lend their time and energy to cook a warm meal just for us. After a long hard day at the hospital, all we had to do was grab a plate and enjoy the fruits of their labors. I always felt so grateful to them and wondered how I could ever repay them and their smiling faces. When would I be able to help someone?

Flash forward to today and I'm at the Lutheran House of Prayer, helping my Youth Group to serve a "Manna" dinner to the needy people of West Aliquippa. No longer on the receiving end of the deal, I am finally prepping instead of eating, spooning veggies and plating brownie squares. A woman comes into the room to take our picture to hang on the wall with the photos of other volunteers who have in the past come to help. "Thank you all for coming." she says. I realize at this moment that here I am, doing my part to help. Now I know what it feels like to be the one serving instead of the one being served. Boy, what a good feeling it is. But part of the reason it feels so good is because I have felt both ways. I know how special one simple meal can be, and how it can mean so much to one who needs it. And I also know how doing your part to do something for someone else can be so fulfilling, gratifying, even liberating.

Although I had to leave early due to soccer practice, this experience at the Manna dinner was a very positive one for me, and I hope that my Youth Group will do more of these types of service projects in the future. I will leave with a quote from the acclaimed blockbuster film, "Les Miserables", which I think applies perfectly to this situation: "Remember the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God".

I agree: it seems like the best in us is brought out when we are all serving and looking out for one another. We get changed for the better, as I can attest: I'll never see people --nor green beans-- in the same way again.

Unseasonable Memorial Day Still Iconic, Poignant

                                 

The unofficial start of summer didn't feel too summery in Beaver Cemetery on Memorial Day morning. Clouds covered the sky and the men and women gathered among the gravestones shivered a bit in their short-sleeved patriotic garb.

But unseasonable temperatures and gloomy weather didn't deter Beaver residents from coming out to the annual parade and cemetery service. Young and old alike lined the main street to catch a glimpse of the veterans and little-league teams marching by, cheering, waving flags and collecting candy.

At the service, Beaver District Attorney Anthony Berosh gave the keynote speech after the invocation by Reverend James Equels. He posed the question "Who are they?" about the fallen soldiers we honor on Memorial Day. "I address you today not as District attorney," he began, "But as a husband, father, brother and friend...... " Continuing, he identified the said soldiers by the generals they served, the places they fought, and the professions they held. Concluding, he exclaimed, "Let all within the sound of my voice take up the cry: 'Who are they? Who are they?  [From the streets of Beaver to the farms of Hanover, they are among us,] They are Heroes."

Beaver's young people also played a major role in the ceremony. Nick Kanapesky, Senior Class President, recited the Gettysburg address. Beaver Area High School Chorus sang "God Bless America", and the local Boy Scout troop assisted in handing out programs to spectators. Other youths participated in the fife and drum corps and presentation of the colors.

On a holiday so often defined by picnics, pool-parties and outdoor festivities, outdoor conditions were unfavorable; but Memorial Day in Beaver, with its patriotism, enthusiasm and sincerity, was still a success. As one citizen observed, "It's iconic. It's America at its finest."