AP

Christmas Treasure

Anticipating a fun night, Ian and I took our two grandsons to the town’s Christmas carnival. For two hours, we mingled with the crowd and saw hundreds of things to spend money on. While there was plenty of Santa, reindeer, and elves, not a single thing related to celebrating Jesus’ birth: Christ-mass. I wondered what would happen to the grandeur of Christmas if we continue to celebrate only these made-up stories? The obsession with materialism and self-absorption reminded me of what the Bible describes as the ‘empty way of life handed down to us from our ancestors’ (1 Peter 1:18).

We left the festivities to go home, but stopped to admire the neighbour’s Christmas display. Thousands of flashing lights twinkled in the darkness, showing the air-filled Santa and plastic blow-up figures. I loved it but knew the magic atmosphere would end at 9:30pm when they turned off the power. It was impressive, but I wondered what meaning anyone can find here.

In the morning, the neighbour’s garden was a clutter of wires, icons and deflated images. I took a picture of the deflated Santa and the neighbour commented, “He looks a bit hungover.” That double meaning reflected the reality of the many who celebrate Christmas with too much alcohol. It reinforced the thought of the emptiness of worldly celebrations, and made me pray for people to ponder the real treasure found in Christ. It reminded me of a Christmas our family had in Pakistan years ago, meeting a young Taliban man. 

At the time, we lived in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan, a place where Christmas goes by almost unnoticed in the Islamic society. Our family however, joined some others at St Mary’s Church for a special Christmas Eve Carol service. Inside the building, we held candles, sang songs, and read the Bible, while Ian stayed at the entrance to welcome people. The service was well under way when Ian heard more cars approaching. Two pickup trucks pulled into the parking lot, each with about six armed men in the backs with automatic weapons. His throat tightened. These were Pushtoons, Taliban. Was this a terrorist attack? What should he do? 

A driver stepped out as several security guards jumped off the back and surrounded him. He said to them: “All of you stay here. I am going alone.” 

Nervously, he walked towards the entrance while the gunmen stood in their places. Ian knew this man must be an important member of a powerful tribal leader’s family and greeted him. The young man shifted on his feet, looked around and said, “Where is the Padre?”

Ian said, “He’s leading the service now. Can I help you?” 

Out of earshot of his men, the Pushtoon said: “I’ve come because of my dream last night. I saw a camel and rider coming towards me. As the camel came closer, the rider looked different to anyone I’d ever seen: a man with white hair, wearing a white robe, bound with a golden sash across his chest. His bearing demanded respect, yet kindness radiated out of his eyes. On his lap, he carried a treasure box. He said: ‘If you want this treasure, go to St. Mary’s Church tomorrow night and ask someone to pray for you.’ So that’s why I want the Padre.”

Ian offered to pray with him and help him understand the dream. The man on the camel fit the description of the crucified and risen Jesus, recorded in the Bible: “one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:13,14).

Jesus wanted to give this ‘prince’ real treasure, and sent him to the church. Ian shared the gospel and reality of Jesus with him. They prayed together, exchanged contact details, and then he went off with his gunmen.

How awesome that God revealed himself to this ‘prince’ and told him to seek treasure at this specific church on the only night of the year when they had a service. We prayed that he would be like the man who stumbled over treasure in a field, then with joy sold all he had to buy that field, (Matthew 13:44). It would cost this prince dearly to follow Christ. He could lose his family, community, and perhaps even his life.

Someday we hope to meet him again. His dream helps us realize that Jesus’ birth is a gift of incredible value which deserves not only a Taliban’s utmost, but equally ours. May we Christians celebrate the birth of Christ with joy and passion, that others may realize the emptiness of this world and turn to discover the treasure of a transformed life obtained through the gift of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; Emmanuel: God with us.

– Dorcas Denness