Do You Know The Real Story?

This morning I was reading the original Grimm's version of the fairytale "Cinderella". It's a story most people know, but they know the newer version from which the Disney movie was based off. It was a nice little story, no fairy godmother but a bird living in the tree on the grave of Cinderella's dead mother who gave wishes. And I really liked the part where the wicked step-sisters try to put on the golden shoe the prince used to find his bride, one cut off her toe, the other her heel to try and make the shoe fit.

As I was reading I was thinking about how we so seldom know the real story but we know the version that eventually gets to us after it has been repeated and passed down many times. After all, in our age of "dramatic licence" very few stories are now told as they once were (Disney's "Hercules" is one that always gets me. Kids only know the movie story, they have no idea how awesome the original Greek version is). No, we don't read the original anymore, we listen to someone else tell it, who had listened to someone else tell it, and so on.

The reason I think about this now is Christmas. The story that is told at this time of year is the most often told, acted out, watched, story in the church it seems. But not often read. Last Sunday the Sr. High students had to write out the story from memory and see how well they "really" knew it. We had some parts missing, some parts were added, but hopefully it opened up their eyes to how well they know the true story.

So my challenge this Christmas is to enjoy the movies, the plays, the Christmas sermons, the musicals, and the many other ways you will witness the Christmas story this season. But after it's all said and done, go back to the original. You may be surprised at the true story...

T