In our living room, there is a recessed opening above the fireplace where a television should go. It is just wide enough for a 40-inch TV. And, in the recess, are all of the necessary outlets. There is no TV there, however. And to hide the outlets, I have placed a map. It is a framed map of the Underground Railroad, the name given to the routes enslaved Africans took to escape slavery. More than 100,000 Africans took those routes in the 1800s in search of freedom.
When it came time to put up our crèche, the recess above the fireplace seemed a perfect place. I decided to remove the map since it was not very Christmas-like. As I took it down, I looked at it more closely. In fact, this was the first time I had looked at it closely since we had moved here and the first time I had noticed Iowa.
In the 1800s, due to the Missouri Compromise, Iowa was a “free state” where slavery was not permitted. Underground Railroad routes ran through the central and southern parts of the state, from the Missouri to the Mississippi. Indeed, my map identifies three safehouses in the state: the John Tod House near Tabor, the Jordan House near Valley Junction (now part of West Des Moines), and the George B. Hitchcock House near Lewis, just south of Davenport.
With that history in mind, I reversed my decision. I put the map back up and to put the crèche in front of it. And, now, the map sits as a backdrop for the Holy Family--Mary and Joseph, who were unhoused, and baby Jesus, who would himself become a fugitive from prejudice and power.
It seems fitting with all that is going on in our world that the Holy Family would sit in front of a map representing a road to freedom. Indeed, the people who followed that road followed the light of the North Star. And, many also followed the light of Christ. I can imagine that they, and those who helped them, were inspired by that well-known passage from Isaiah.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, have broken as on the day of Midian…For a child has been born to us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9: 2-6
There is so much chaos, loss and strain in the world. Yet in the midst of it all, there is the story that we rehearse every year--the story of the birth of Christ and of a coming Messiah who is the light of the world. Today, the people who walk in the darkness of prejudice and oppression, those who struggle under the burden of depression and loss, on them and on all of us a light has shined. That light promises peace, love, hope and joy.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Bishop Kennetha