“And a little child shall lead them.”  Isaiah 11

“Behold what manner of love has been lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God.” 1 John 4

I recently spent two weeks in Battambang, Cambodia.  It was my third trip there, the previous one being just before the Covid outbreak in Febuary of 2020.  In one sense I feel it is an obligation for me to go there, as I chair the board for Ray of Hope, a ministry that provides education, hope, healing, and health for children.  But on the other hand my motivation is merely for the pleasure of being with the children and staff of R.O.H. It is such a joy to see the love, care, and compassion with which the children are embraced.

There were a number of highlights, among them a trip to Siem Reap where the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat are located.  It’s important for the children, almost none of whom have ever left Battambang, to experience the bigger world in which they live, and take pride in this architectural wonder of their country.  It was fascinating to watch them, wide-eyed, look with amazement not only at the ruins, but also at the small hotel that we stayed in.  Most of them had never experienced such luxurious surroundings (simple by our standards), with clean bedding, indoor plumbing and hot water for their shower.  They also took great delight dining in the restaurants that we took them to.  It was so fulfilling just to watch them eat, as they weren’t used to such abundant fare.

On Sunday, December 4^th, I had the privilege of baptizing nine of the children.  I’ve been a part of numerous baptisms in my life, but this one ranks near the top.  There weren’t all the church trappings or proper accoutrements that accompany baptisms in the States.  We had a large, oval-shaped black rubber tub filled with water in which I stood.  Each child in turn would walk down a small ramp and into the water with me, and I would then pour a significant amount of water over their heads as they received the gift of baptismal washing.  It was so moving, I had to fight back tears. Each of them received a small cross necklace to help them remember their baptism.

Perhaps one of the most surprising parts of my visit was seeing the Christmas decorations up in and around Battambang.  There were lights, Christmas trees, and various other decorations.  The surprising thing about that is that Cambodia is a Buddhist country.  The Cambodian people love celebrations, so perhaps that is what motivates them to observe Christmas in some form.  Or maybe the commercialism that drives the celebration in the States translates equally well to other places.  Or maybe somehow the beautiful message of the Lord’s birth has made a place in their culture, and also in the hearts of some.

While I was there the children at R.O.H. began practicing for the Christmas pageant that they will be performing.  Dance routines are quite popular, with one group doing a rather elegant one that seemed to incorporate traditional Cambodian gestures to the song Silent Night.  The older children chose an upbeat Christmas song that featured much more energetic movements.  They also were practicing a traditional Cambodian dance. It was a delight to watch them, and I can’t wait to see the video of their performance.

Being away during this time of year was a bit difficult as it cut into my Christmas preparations.  But being with those children was a powerful reminder of the basic Christmas message of God coming as a child to make us His children.  In love.  And humility. 

As I ponder that question of why the God of the Universe would choose to make His appearance as a child, humility is what comes to mind.  There is a quality in humility that runs contrary to the value placed on pride, control, and power, so often on display in our world, and in the mirror.  If there is a central theme to the Christmas account, and the entire life of The Lord, it is precisely that; humility.  A humble birth.  A humble mother.  A humble life.  A humble death.  As St. Paul says, “Though he was in the very nature of God, he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but humbled himself by making himself nothing, even to the point of death on the cross.”

It was a humbling experience to be in the presence of the children in Cambodia. 

It is humbling to ponder the humility of The Christ.

It is humbling to consider what place humility has during Christmas, and in our lives.