Boxing Day Blah
By: Sheridan Voysey
One of my favourite Christmas artworks is a painting called The Nativity by contemporary artist Brian Kershisnick.
The first thing that strikes you is the hundreds of angels swooping across the canvas to get their first glimpse of Mary’s new-born son. After this your eye falls on two delightful details—first, that it isn’t Mary or her midwives who see these angels, but a dog and her pups who’ve wandered into the scene—and second, Joseph. Eyes closed, a hand covering his face, he looks bewildered, as if to say, What have I gotten myself into!
Boxing Day Blah
I’m drawn to that painting today because, after yesterday’s festive fun, Boxing Day can feel a bit blah. Where once we had candle-lit carols, now All Ye Faithful have come and gone home, Wham and Mariah have disappeared from supermarket speakers, the slippers you bought your mum are suddenly half price and those expensive puddings are now three-for-£1. Whether it’s the ‘happiness hangover’ researchers talk about, or the after effects of a little too much feasting, Boxing Day blah is apparently a thing as we stuff wrapping paper into bin bags and vacuum up yesterday’s crumbs.
It makes me wonder what the first Boxing Day was like. The Bible doesn’t tell us, jumping seven days ahead to Jesus’ naming ceremony. But after a four-day walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a last-minute scramble for accommodation and Mary going into labour far from home; after mud-clogged shepherds turned up last night unannounced, a night spent on make-shift beds with a baby breaking their sleep with his cries, and post-birth pain wracking Mary’s body, we can imagine this morning feeling more mundane than magical. And here’s Joseph, the husband but not the father, the child not his but God’s. What has he gotten himself into.
Into the Mundane…
There’s another detail in that painting I like. Joseph’s left hand is resting on Mary’s shoulder, and her hand is resting on his. Whatever he’s in for, he’s in it with her, and she’s in it with him. And what neither of them see is that after catching a glimpse of Jesus, those swooping angels have spontaneously burst into song. It’s what countless others have echoed through centuries since—that the One born yesterday is with us today, ready to bring light into our blah days and joy into the mundane—whatever we’ve gotten ourselves into.
Article supplied with thanks to Sheridan Voysey.
About the Author: Sheridan Voysey is an author and broadcaster on faith and spirituality. His latest book is called Reflect with Sheridan. Download his FREE inspirational printable The Creed here.
Feature image: ‘The Nativity’ painting by Brian Kershisnik
