Christmas - 2024
We pause this day and into tomorrow to remember a king who was born in a most unpretentious manner, in a manger with straw and little else. Only His mom and stepfather knew the true identity of this king, but ALL of Heaven knew! A bright royal star shined above, a crown so to speak, with few discerning. In some ways it remains such today. The King of kings and Lord of lords was born, raised, ministered to all who would receive when He became thirty for three years and a couple of months, and then crucified. This King of kings entered this world in a most unassuming way possible, and died in like manner, an accused criminal of the state.
In the eyes of many this unassuming king remains to this day a story, maybe even a belief without substance. A God who creates interest even angst but little else, and definitely not such intervention into the life of man worth writing home about much less to whom one should give thanks and submission. But for those blessed with eyes to see and ears to hear, those blessed with a heart of surrender to a king who is unlike any other king in all of human history, the subtle majesty and influence is breath-taking. Yes…this unpretentious king can intervene in events in unimaginable ways and bring His peace, His joy, His calm healing if man would only but accept it and turn from their ways of the world.
As we look around us this season of celebration to what are we truly celebrating? I pray, sincerely pray, each of us is able to become still and remove ourselves from the cares, trials and worries of the world around us that appear to be unraveling with no clear end in sight. I pray you will be able to receive this message and take it into your heart and deep personhood, and quietly but assertively ask yourself if you believe a king born in a most unpretentious manner in a manger 2,000 plus years ago can truly stop madness and battles, anger and disbelief; stop the ruination of earthly despots who are amoral and self-serving not at all servant leaders.
On Christmas Eve in 1915, World War I was in full action. Madness, evil, destruction was unfolding, especially for those on the front lines. Some along those front lines were merely 30 yards from one another, others maybe 300 yards. But then came a silence. A voice on the German side began singing a beautiful rendition of Silent Night-Holy Night. This absolutely penetrating silence with a beautiful song depicting the special night of 2,000 years prior brought about a momentary peace. The Germans left their trenches, the French and English left theirs. All met in the middle of "No Man's Land" and shared smiles, cigarettes, wine and cups of coffee, even kicking a soccer ball around. And they sang together Christmas carols brought about by a baby. An unassuming king born in a most unpretentious manner in a manger with straw breathed peace. Well…click on the link below.
Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her under-graduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989. She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. Since 1988, she has been chairman of the Public Health Committee of the Pima County (Arizona) Medical Society. She is the author of 
