THE STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS

(An Enchanted Christmas Forest Journey)

From The Song Album:

A CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING

(The Essence Of Christmas)

Volume 1 Copyright © 2005
by Adrian Mark Bianconi, Ph.D. (Dr. B.)
 

A Christmas Homecoming (The Essence Of Christmas) is an album consisting of sixteen new songs chosen from the fifty-three Yuletide pieces I wrote over a thirty-two year period ranging from 1972 to 2004. I plan on writing more as I become inspired. This recording is about the Christmas season which happens to be my favorite time of each year. During that annual period there has been consistent love, peace, and joy shared between members of my family. I can only describe the memories we made together as warm, delightful, spiritual, and comforting. Throughout the days of Christmastime is when I have always felt closest to all of them still alive and those who have advanced into Heaven. I am sure most people share similar feelings. I hope the songs on this holiday album will reinforce such thoughts and instill in each listener a rekindled desire to make more meaningful memories of love and joy during the present Noel and those yet to come.

This album, similar to my first two, begins with a PRELUDE describing one of two themes relative to the recording. The first is one of three colors. They are simply red, green, and gold. Red is to remind us of the blood that flowed out of Jesus at the time of his death to wash away our sins. Green is to acknowledge the evergreen tree which has been used as a symbol of eternal life since the ancient times dating back to the Hebrews, Chinese, and Egyptian people. Finally, the color gold was chosen because it is the brightest of all colors and symbolizes the glowing heart of Jesus which shines bright and comforts us during the lonely and frightening times in our lives. Furthermore, gold in its physical form was one of three gifts given to Jesus by The Three Wise Men shortly after his birth.

Thus, the stage is set for your Christmas journey. It will take you through an enchanted forest with sixteen scheduled stops along the way. At each special place you will have time to view a scene and think about what you see and hear in relation to the essence of Christmas which is the second theme of the album. I hope you enjoy this, my first, magical adventure. It has evolved from a higher source through me for anyone who chooses to take the journey. I pray it is a pleasant one for those who make the choice to do so.

Now, close your eyes, sit back in a comfortable chair, and think wonderful thoughts about Christmas. Allow your mind and body to be at ease and slowly descend into a state of complete relaxation. Let your imagination take over and gently shut off the switch of reality. Once you have accomplished these tasks, you will be ready to enter a realm of enchantment and your journey will begin.

THE JOURNEY

Imagine you have just awoken on a Saturday morning in the middle of December and suddenly hear the clang of your mail slot cover flip open and close signifying you have received mail. Still in a drowsy state, you slowly walk to the front door entrance of your home to find pieces of mail scattered about the hallway floor. You carefully bend down not to over exert your still slumbering body and gather the mail. You sit on the sofa and reluctantly sift through the items with little intent to read them at the present time. You casually organize the contents when suddenly, you discover an envelope decorated with red, green, and gold foil. Astonished by its bright array of colors, you decide to read the writing on the front of the article which simply spells out, A Christmas Present For You. Your curiosity intensifies so you decide to carefully peel back the flap and gently pull out the card located inside. To your amazement, you find it is an invitation to participate in a Christmas adventure especially designed for you. Neatly printed on the insert is a specific time table for you to follow, directions to a place of enchantment, and additional words printed in large letters which read, IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THIS OFFER, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE CHRISTMAS.

After a short time of pondering and bewilderment, you realize you know the place described in the text of the invitation where the event will possibly take place. You further comprehend, it is about eight hours of driving time away and today is the designated date listed on the card. With both great apprehension and excitement, you decide it is time to take a chance and explore the possibility before you. You run up the stairs to change out of your pajamas and into some warm clothes, pick out a colorful scarf dangling in the closet, reach in the drawer for a pair of woolen mittens, run back down the stairs, slip on some old rubber boots, snatch your favorite Winter coat and hat hanging on the rack in the hallway and grab a road map resting on your desk in the den. Feeling giddy and like a little child again, you hurry to the front door but suddenly, come to a complete stop while being filled with both great anticipation yet a sense of subtle insecurity. You place your hand on the doorknob then gently rest your head against the door reconsidering what to do. You then slowly back away from the doorway, turn around, and look at the inside of your home which you have meticulously decorated for the Christmas holiday. While viewing the beautiful setting you created and hesitating to leave its comfortable and secure atmosphere, you slowly feel a sense of confidence begin to build within you and a compulsion to pursue the challenge presented. You slightly smile while taking a long look at the decorations you arranged throughout the house because you know in your heart you have made a decision to go forth on the magical adventure placed before you. Feeling a sense of resolve, you slowly turn towards the door, open it, pass on through, close it behind you, insert the key and turn the lock. You then quickly scamper down the front porch steps and dash to your automobile. You start the engine of your car, carefully back out of the driveway and head towards the mountain road leading to the forest described in your invitation. Safely driving out of town, you notice all the red stop lights are turning green and clearing your way to the start of your enchanted Christmas experience. You feel like your vehicle is driving itself and knows its way and soon, a sense of contentment overcomes you. Aware of the distance you must travel to reach your destination, you estimate your time of arrival to be just around dusk when the moon and stars begin to shine.

While driving high and far into the mountains, you realize the daylight hours have passed and you are nearing the mystical place described in your invitation. Suddenly you come to a small road leading off the highway and through a field to the edge of a great forest of pine trees covered with freshly fallen snow. The weighted branches seem to bow and greet you as you drive your automobile cautiously down the trail when, in the midst of what seems to be the middle of nowhere, you notice a quaint little stone cottage with a sign on the front door spelling out, welcome. The outside of the shelter is decorated with strings of lit colored bulbs and you can see other lights through the windows which have been switched on. You pull into the driveway, shut off your car motor, and sit to ponder your next move.

After prudently examining the area, you feel safe to exit your vehicle and walk towards the entrance of the cottage. Upon reaching the doorway you stop, slowly turn around, then look back towards your car and the immediate surroundings. You experience a sense of calm and decide to go forth and lift the knocker on the door. You gently bang the device three times and to your disappointment, no one answers. Again, but slightly more intense, you lift and bang it three more times, and again there is no response. Reluctantly you place your hand on the knob and gently turn it to open the door. Much to your surprise, you discover it is unlocked so you carefully push inward to create a small opening to peek inside. You then see the interior of the dwelling all decorated in the colors of red, green, and gold, and a fire burning in the hearth which casts a glimmering glow of light upon all the objects nestled throughout the cozy little rooms. The scene becomes very inviting, your anxiety subsides, and you dare to move forward and enter. You feel the inside of the dwelling is quite warm due to the heat from the hearth so you remove your hat and mittens then unbutton your coat. You then slowly unwrap the scarf from around your neck and choose to sit in a rocking chair located by to the fireplace to analyze your presence and what to do next.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed by its beauty and the sense of peace you experience, you decide to stand and walk about the rooms to grasp the ambiance of this quaint little home but while in the process, you notice a hand written note addressed to you lying on a small table slightly to the left of the fireplace. You walk towards it then carefully lift the card to read its contents. On it are words of welcome and instructions written by your hosts directing you, when you are ready, to dress warmly then quietly exit the rear door of the cottage to begin you magical Christmas journey. Somewhat mentally fatigued by the intrigue and long drive to the forest, you pause but then decide time should not be wasted and since you have come this far, the right thing to do is to trust your instincts and complete the adventure you started. You button your coat, wrap your scarf around your neck, place your hat tightly on your head and slip your woolen mittens over your hands. All ready to go, you look towards the rear door and slowly approach it. You gently turn the knob and pull the door until it is open. While doing so, surprisingly, a gust of brisk Winter air blows through the crack and continues until the door is wide open. As the frosty breeze subsides, the cool night air seems to beckon you to the outdoors. You stop and stare at the path leading from the point you are at to a snow covered road descending into the dense forest. You sense the stillness of the night all around you and observe the crescent moon shining in the eastern sky. You also witness an abundance of stars twinkling in the Heavens as they provide light on the glistening snow and road you will follow through the enchanted Christmas forest. You hesitate once again but find the courage to close the door behind you and take your first few steps outside the shelter onto the path leading to the road. You know in your heart you cannot turn back and your Christmas journey has finally begun.

After this mysterious yet delightful prelude, you walk on the short path until it connects to the road leading into the forest. You then continue to a point just beyond the tree line entrance when suddenly, you discover a colorful scene before you and the first of your journey. To your amazement, you find yourself in a huge department store in the center of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania listening to traditional Christmas songs as you stroll through the aisles. You step onto an escalator leading to the second floor of the store but as your ascent begins, you are struck by a wondrous sight. The first floor shopping areas below you are beautifully decorated with red, green, and gold bulbs, ribbons, and bows. The vista catches you off guard and causes you to slightly pause in a emotional trance. Viewing the sight stimulates an abundance of feelings and stirs up many good memories you have made in your lifetime during previous Christmas seasons. You experience an aching desire to reach out, put your arms around all you witness, hold it close to your heart, and say to it, please do not ever leave me. You want to love it as much as the people you truly love. You know what you see and hear is right, wonderful, and beautiful. It is one of those precious times in life for you to make a lasting image in your mind and never let it slip away. You further sense from that moment on the colors of RED, GREEN, and GOLD will be more significant in your life and forever stir up the magical feelings of Christmas whenever you see them together again. The escalator soon reaches the second floor of the store and the site that was before you fades away. Feeling very content after viewing the first scene of your adventure, you close your eyes and are quickly whisked back to the magical forest where you find yourself on the road once again continuing on your journey towards another destination.

After a few short moments of walking on the road, you discover a second scene before you. You see yourself inside a huge grocery store crowded with people just before Christmas Day. Everyone is shopping, carols are playing, and people are smiling and wishing each other a Merry Christmas. You suddenly feel overwhelmed by such a display of holiday spirit. It is a time of hustle and bustle and for some reason, it seems appropriate that everyone is just enjoying each other's company. The word merry truly applies to all you see and you are aware the joy which accompanies the Yuletide season has arrived even in the long lines at food stores just prior to Christmas Day. You notice many decorations strategically placed throughout the store which add to the Christmas atmosphere created. You think of how wonderful you feel because you know your family is healthy, relatives will soon be arriving to spend the holiday season with you, and everything seems in perfect order to welcome in another Christmas. Suddenly, you hear a melody playing in your mind and you begin to think of some words to sing along with it. Soon you hear yourself singing I WISH YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS AT CHRISTMASTIME and by doing so, you hear more parts to a song that seems to be building within you. You slowly pass through the checkout line, pay for the goods you gathered, and rush to your automobile in the parking lot. You place your bags of food on the hood of your car, frantically search for the keys in the many pockets of your clothing, locate them, then quickly open the door for the purpose of finding an ink pen and slip of paper. You locate a pen in the glove compartment but cannot find a single piece of paper anywhere within the car. Frustrated because you feel you may soon forget the words passing through your mind if you do not write them on something, you sit quietly, take a deep breath, and try to regain some composure. Suddenly, you think of the food item receipt the register worker dropped in one of the grocery bags which are presently sitting on the hood of your car. You quickly exit your automobile, grab the bags from the hood, excitedly search through the food items and there, at the bottom of one of the bags, you discover the slip. You reach deeply into the bag, snatch it from the bottom, then flip off the top of the ink pen. Not realizing the amount of pressure you applied to release the pen cover, you watch it fly through the air, hit the ground of the parking lot some distance away, and roll under another vehicle parked in the lot. With little concern over losing it, you quickly begin the writing process while standing next to your car and using the roof as a desktop. The words flow from your mind, through your hand, then onto the paper. Within several minutes, you realize you have just written a new Christmas song and feel mentally exhausted but yet, gratified. You rest for a short time, place the bags of food in the car, start your engine, and slowly drive away from the store. While on your way home you see and hear yourself singing a new song for another Christmas about to begin.

Watching the car being driven away, you realize it is time for you to close this window. You continue on your magical journey through the enchanted Christmas forest, take a turn around the next bend and surprisingly find yourself at the North Pole and Santa's workshop. You peek through a window and catch glimpses of Santa as a child sitting in front of a television and watching episodes of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry riding horses as fast as the wind, chasing bandits who robbed the payroll trains, roping cattle on the plains, and singing wonderful cowboy songs once they put all the evil things to rest. You then have the opportunity to witness Santa sleeping and dreaming of growing up as a cowboy and instead of hitching eight flying reindeer to his sleigh, he visions hooking up eight big and beautiful white flying horses or steeds to pull him through the sky. You further have the opportunity to watch Santa as a child running around the toy shop playing cowboys with his six shooter cap guns blazing away. Well, as the changing scenes continue, suddenly you see Santa as an adult and accepting the responsibility of delivering toys and other presents to the girls and boys all over the world on Christmas Eve. Then you observe Santa after he returns from making his deliveries. Christmas is over and you see him wearing his high Stetson hat, cowboy boots, rhinestone shirt and pants, and his gun holster belt wrapped around his waist, buckled, and strapped to his side. Ready, armed, and dangerous, you watch as he enters the toy shop and is met by a bunch of outlaw elves and the game of cowboys continues at a very unruly childlike pace only to be observed minutes later by Mrs. Claus who catches them by surprise when she enters the room. All activity comes to a complete stop while everyone looks towards Mrs. Claus for approval. She just gently shakes her head, smiles softly, and lets the games continue. Then you realize, like most grownups, Santa is a child at heart and will remain so just like many other adults who do not want to or know how to admit it. Gettie up Snowshoes, away! Because, SANTA HAD A WISH TO BE A COWBOY.

You drift backwards from the windowpane you were peering through and the scenes you observed then magically, you are whisked away from the North Pole. Soon, you find yourself back in the enchanted forest and walking on the road once again. After a short jaunt, you arrive at another scene. You see yourself in a little community church located in a beautiful valley on Christmas Eve just prior to the beginning of midnight mass. You observe the procession of parishioners and other folk walking into the dimly lit church where candles are glowing and everyone is awaiting the ringing of the bells and lighting of the manger to welcome in a new Christmas Day. Loving families, lonely hearts, the rich and poor, all come together for one reason, to give praise to the little baby king who was born so long ago in Bethlehem. As the countdown to midnight ends, huge bells in church steeples throughout the entire valley begin to ring and all the Christians on earth and even people who are not Christians feel the great joy in knowing something magnificent occurred so long ago with the birth of one single solitary child that changed the way we think and act on this world. That isolated incident has given us our greatest gift which is hope to someday live for eternity in total peace with our Lord free from all worry and pain. You know in your heart this is what the bells of Christmas symbolize and from that day forward you will forever pay more attention and tell others to HEAR THE BELLS RING ON CHRISTMAS EVE! IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL SOUND.

You realize it is time to depart from this holy place and travel just a short distance on the road through the Christmas forest to observe another mystical setting. You see yourself leaving Christmas Eve mass and you know in reality it is Christmas Day but you still must sleep and refocus your mind, because tomorrow morning at sunrise, then it will truly be Christmas Day. You have said your hellos and wished Merry Christmas to your friends, neighbors, and others who attended midnight mass and now you must return home, fall asleep, and mentally prepare for Christmas. You have a fantasy filled with wonderment and loving feelings. You are also aware of the children being very excited and how they keep fighting the Sandman by demonstrating a strong will to stay awake all night yet a sense of fatigue as their fragile little bodies flounder in need of rest. You arrive home and witness your CHRISTMAS EVE FANTASY. The winds call, snow falls, and trees bow gracefully for all. Silently the stage is set for Christmas to sneak in. You see yourself only half asleep because the contentment you are feeling is caused by the hope in your heart that someday such a happy feeling will last forever. Your dreams rise up, your fears subside, and all the city lights slowly but surely grow dim. Your warm Christmas Eve fire slowly grows tired, and you fall asleep surrounded by all the good you are experiencing while living your Christmas Eve fantasy. The moon glows and it shines on the snow casting out shadows of the night. It is so bright, it mystifies the sight and you know children's dreams are waiting to come true. All life is asleep dreaming what will be and wishful hearts are just waiting for the dawn to come. Many days have passed and it is hard to believe they went by so fast and your Christmas Eve fantasy has finally arrived. Then, what seems to be within the length of an eye blink, you awaken to see the morning sun shining and hear children's voices sounding quite jubilant. You soon become aware restrained but joyful hearts want to sing praise for all good things awaiting them because it is Christmas Day. Soon your friends and family members begin to call and you come to realize your Christmas Eve fantasy has just come true. You slowly back away from this scene with a happy tear rolling down your cheek. You hold your hands close to your heart feeling quite content then turn away to take another short walk to the next stop on your journey.

While still feeling quite emotional, you shuffle down the road and discover the next revelation of your adventure. You find yourself back home sitting in your favorite living room chair and realize, it is still Christmas Day. It is sometime between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. Everyone is beginning to slow down and tire, all bellies are full of good food and holiday treats, the children become a little restless, and it is time for some personal peace only for the purpose of bouncing back to continue into the evening to grasp every moment of this joyful day that only happens once each year. During the brief respite that each of us need after such a gathering and feast, you realize it is a good time to ponder on why such a day is celebrated. You see yourself pick up the Bible and read the first few pages of Saints Matthew and Mark and reflect upon the Christmas story that the apostles described. You think about that beautiful baby boy born in Bethlehem so long ago who we call THE MESSIAH, our savior Jesus Christ, who has come to us to save our souls from all the evil that will present itself during our lifetimes. This is your time to personally wish Jesus a happy birthday. You also thank him for the gift of life, your loving family, all the good things he has bestowed upon you, and for being in your heart forever. You are aware he has created a challenge for you to try to do your best by living in a way that your deeds have a positive impact on all people you encounter along your path in life. Suddenly, you see yourself being disturbed by one of the children who miss your attention and you hear yourself say, Lord, I am being summoned and you hear Jesus reply to you, go my child and continue with your kindness. You touch your heart and you say good-bye for now to the one you know loves you the most. You stand and walk away from your chair and accept the responsibility God has granted you to do the best you can to keep the Christmas spirit alive throughout the remainder of the day for all the company in your home. You then turn and glance back at your favorite but empty chair and realize your savior has just given you your Christmas present, the greatest of all, pure and total attention on his, the Messiah's birthday.

The scene slowly fades, you slightly step back, then once again begin to wander down the road for only a short distance. As expected, you then come upon another site where you see yourself in your home on yet another Christmas Day. You observe activities are winding down and your guests are slowly departing one by one. You see happy tears begin to flow because your loved ones are saying good-bye. You watch meaningful touches occur naturally. All this happens because of the true ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS. You sense the nature of the tears you see rolling down the cheeks of your departing guests' sad faces. You also feel the heartache of those who are leaving, and you do not want to let go of the loving touches and embraces that do not want to let go of you. Analyzing this scene, you feel slightly overwhelmed by the intense emotions that are stirred by the true essence of Christmas. You become uniquely aware that entity is what causes all those wonderful emotions to surface and it is what Jesus and Christmas are all about. You know what you have believed for a long time that the true essence or nature of Christmas is simply love. Aware of that fact, everything else becomes less significant and thus, you begin to understand the true meaning of life. It becomes clear in your mind and you realize when a person is loved by someone and Jesus, he or she has done well. You then analyze your own degree of love and further understand when someone is blessed with an abundance of loving wealth given by many, that person becomes a temporary king on earth who will still answer to the one who bestowed the responsibility of kingship on that individual. With such wealth comes an enormous degree of responsibility unless that person chooses to be foolish and ignore it. You become keenly aware from this moment on, you will never forget what you have just learned. You now believe in your heart love is the true essence of Christmas and life itself. You know you must inform others to start searching for that essence because when they find it, for the remainder of their lives, they will see and experience things much differently and many of their fears will subside by simply knowing Jesus loves them unconditionally.

You slowly withdraw from this scene but you are feeling just a little weary and emotionally drained. You see a beautiful round tree stump near the forest road and realize it is time for you to rest and think about what you experienced thus far while on your Christmas journey. You begin to reflect upon how joyful and meaningful Christmas really is. You start to sing Hail Christmas and begin to write something down, HAIL NOW CHRISTMASTIME. Yes you say, Christmas is something wonderful to hail. It is a time to recall the past, bring the memories forward, and build on them for a brighter future. You believe ever stronger Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of each year for the majority of people and for those who it is not, you wish for God to grant them peace, hope, joy, and good will.

After a brief rest and with warm feelings in your heart, you slowly stand and continue your journey by walking on the road through the forest to another stop awaiting you along the way. You arrive at a scene just prior to another Christmas Day. You soon become involved in what you see and realize you have planned an old-fashioned Christmas celebration for family and friends with the theme being red, green, and gold. You know each time you see those three colors combined, thoughts of Christmas enter your mind. Observing the children being very excited, you watch yourself begin the decorating process while spirits are running high. You think of your grandmother and grandfather and how they enjoy sitting near the spinet singing Christmas carols. You plan to build a fire with the Yule log you saved from the previous year and know the heat it will bring will be like the warm and loving feeling which is present in your heart during each holiday season. You sense it is nearly time, the house is decorated in the theme of red, green, and gold decorations to symbolize the true tradition of Christmas and suddenly your company begins to arrive. Time passes quickly and you witness the evening unfold just as you planned. Many carols are sung, the children run from room to room within the home until they tire, a tasty feast is devoured, wonderful stories are told, and soon it is late evening. You then see and hear your friends and family begin to thank you for the joy they experienced while being with you in your Christmas house of red, green, and gold on that day. As they begin to exit your front door, you hear yourself tell them to HAVE A RED, GREEN, AND GOLD MERRY CHRISTMAS and to keep the memories alive which were made that day. You further watch yourself close the door as your final guests depart and then sit in a chair to observe all the symbols of Christmas neatly and strategically nestled in their appropriate places to remind guests of the special holiday and to keep their spirits high. You realize your Christmas gathering was a complete success and feel content that all your loved ones are safe, healthy, and very happy they spent Christmas Day with you. You know it was truly a red, green, and gold old-fashioned Christmas. You watch yourself gaze at the manger set under the tree and hear yourself say thank you Lord for all the good which happened on that wonderful day. You then see yourself slowly walk up the stairway to settle in for a long Winter sleep. You fall deep into a comfortable rest but soon see yourself awakened by an annoying but yet, delightful sound. By hearing the clanging in the kitchen below, you see yourself smile because you realize your mate has washed all of the glasses and dishes left lying about and throughout the house due to the gathering held during the previous day. You see yourself lay back on the bed, stretch your arms high above your head, watch yourself yawn, then finally hear yourself sigh and say, what a nice Christmas present to wake up to.

In awe by the feelings being stirred, you leave this scene and continue on your journey less afraid, but more solemn and with a contrite heart. You begin to understand the nature of it all and you are in need of a lift but sense you must face one more scene regarding the beauty and mystery of this time of year called Christmas. You come to the next stop on your walk through the forest and find yourself and your family together again in your home on another Christmas Eve but something you planned on seeing this Noel is missing. It is a key ingredient to make this particular Christmas so very right. The lights have been dimmed, the candles are glowing, some family members and friends have come home to be with you this Christmas, and the house is completely decorated. You are surrounded by people and things you love. The children are tucked in their beds and dreaming about the wonders of Christmas and you are being held by the person who loves you the most. The only thing missing that you counted on to be present this Christmas season was A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW. It is late, you are lying in the arms of the person you love and you realize it is actually early Christmas Day. While staring out the window, you recall all that is good and you ponder the joy of love. Caught by the confusion caused by a strong desire for rest and the wonderful feelings you are experiencing, you try even harder to fight off the tiredness. Your final Christmas wish is to see snow before you retire to your bedroom for the night. Suddenly, you think you see something glimmer past your lighted lamp on the front lawn. You squint your eyelids closer together to focus when you think you see it again. To your amazement, you realize your wish has been granted and God has opened up the Heavens to allow the snow to fall. Soon it begins to accumulate and create a beautiful Winter wonderland. You cuddle close to your partner under a thick blanket and realize God has heard your prayer and showed his magic to you one more time. Your heart then melts like a snowflake and you fall gently asleep only to awaken and witness the artistry of God and another white Christmas.

You retreat several steps back from the scene and turn to look down the road once again. This time the Christmas forest seems more dense and dark but you feel compelled to continue. You sense an unusual stillness and all is quiet. You walk slowly and cautiously but yet unafraid towards a curve in the road. You make the turn and step into complete darkness when you are suddenly struck by a blinding light. You come to a halt and cannot believe what you see. There before you is Mary at a very young age. She is kneeling while speaking to the archangel Gabriel who is surrounded by a bright glowing light and you realize you are observing the Annunciation. You hear Gabriel tell Mary she is with child conceived by the holy spirit and she will give birth to a son. His name will be Jesus and he will be the savior of the world. You then observe Mary as being frightened but she listens to Gabriel's gentle words as he describes how she will travel to Bethlehem guided by a star in the sky and give birth to Jesus in that little town. You hear Gabriel further inform Mary that people from far away will come to visit the Christ child and how they will bring presents to honor him including special gifts from three very wise men. Quickly the scene changes and you watch Gabriel as he ascends back to Heaven and you see yourself with Mary. You are very aware how afraid and lonely she is. You further sense her fear of such a responsibility that has been bestowed upon her at such a young age but somehow know Mary will do what has been asked of her by the angel Gabriel. You watch Mary lay down on her bed and weep. You see yourself try to comfort her but it is futile because Mary cannot see or hear you. You watch her gently fall asleep with a heavy heart and you hear yourself say HAIL MARY as the mother of our king.

Humbly moved by the scene you had the privilege of witnessing, you step back , then turn, and walk further on the road. You soon find yourself again in the presence of Mary and the archangel Gabriel. You hear Gabriel speak to Mary as she prays. You hear him tell Mary that Jesus will touch the souls of mankind and be guided by God's most Heavenly hosts from on high. You observe how frightened Mary is especially knowing she must tell her future husband she is pregnant and he is not the father. The scene then moves forward and you hear Mary tell Joseph the news and see his expression of great dismay. Observing Joseph is deeply hurt, you hear him discuss with Mary her story and how hard it is for him to believe. You watch Joseph abruptly leave Mary and see yourself follow him while he is crying in despair. You continue to track Joseph to his home and watch him fall into a deep sleep while trying to block from his mind what he was told. Soon, you witness Joseph dreaming and see the angel Gabriel come to tell him all will be fine and Mary is carrying in her womb the son of God on high. You observe Joseph as he awakens and see him approach Mary to tell her about his dream. You then see them embrace with joy. Days and months pass before you instantly and you then find yourself at a time when all of the people living in Judea are to be taxed by Caesar. You hear that every person has been ordered to return to their city of origin to register for the tax. You watch Mary and Joseph leave their little village to travel to Bethlehem. While on their journey you see them discover an unusual star shining brightly in the sky and you watch as it softly lights their way through the darkest nights. You also witness their protectors, the angels from Heaven, as they watch over them while singing GABRIEL'S SONG. You then observe Mary heavily burdened with child and Joseph seeking refuge at the inns but because of an influx of people in town to register for the tax, you become aware there are no rooms available anywhere for them to rest in. You watch as they wonder through town and are suddenly approached by a woman who observes Mary's physical condition. She tells them of a stable that could be located on a hillside on the outskirts of the town where they might find some comfort for the night. You hear Joseph and Mary thank the woman for her assistance and watch as they slowly head in the direction of the shelter. Soon, you find yourself in a stable made to corral and protect animals and realize it is time for Jesus to be born. You see Joseph gently lay Mary on a soft bed of fresh hay and in moments, you watch a baby boy be born. During the night you witness a strange stillness and peace spread throughout the surrounding land. Soon, several days pass by and you sense something wonderful and mysterious occurring. You see shepherds, wise men, and people from afar appear and hear them say how they followed the strange new star in the sky while hearing angels from Heaven sing glory to God in the highest for a savior has been born in Bethlehem who will be hailed as the Messiah and King of all Kings. You feel bewildered and scared but continue to watch these people come to the stable and pay tribute the little baby Jesus dressed in swaddling clothes as he is being held in the arms of his mother. You further observe the stable as being filled to capacity by the numerous people who were guided there by the star and the animals that do not seem to mind the disturbance. You further observe several white doves roosting in the rafters of the stable and hear them coo as if they were singing to Jesus and comforting him as he slept. Realizing you have just witnessed the first Christmas, you watch yourself fall on your knees and give praise with a humble heart to the baby Jesus our savior king.

Not wanting to leave this the most precious scene of all, the birth of Jesus Christ, you realize it is time to move on. Reluctantly you withdraw from the stable and in an instant, find yourself walking on the forest road once again. While continuing your journey, you are suddenly met with a sense of helplessness and extreme fear. You hear crying and screaming and behold, you find yourself in the middle of the next scene which is a blood bath that is occurring all around you and throughout the entire land. Baby boys under the age of two years old are being slaughtered by soldiers for no apparent reason. You watch mothers and fathers try to defend their children but to no avail. You become aware that murder, the slaughter of the innocents according to Saint Matthew, is occurring before your eyes. You watch as you try to stop the onslaught and brutality ordered by Herod, King of Judea, and realize you are a spirit who cannot intervene but only watch the horrible acts taking place before you. The killing and mayhem continues all through the night and you think that hell has risen to encompass the earth. You hear the wailing of heartbroken mothers and fathers throughout the town, surrounding hillsides, and across the land. How far the decree of Herod extended to is unknown. You see yourself filled with bitterness because of the killings you witnessed and feel a strong desire to strike back in return but realize, even if you could, the force would be too powerful. Submissively, you stand motionless with the others who observed the terrible crimes as you did, endure the pain caused by the atrocities, and ask the question why? You see the sorrowful expression on your face because of what you feel for the mothers and fathers who suffered such losses and most of all, you experience grief for yourself because of feeling so helpless in such a time of need. You watch as you bow your head between your legs and cry like a lonely beast who seeks not to be alone. After a long pause, you see yourself overcome your emotional outcry and bewilderment and suddenly you are transported forward in time and find yourself sitting in front of a television sometime in the mid 1990's. You are watching and hearing an interview with an archaeologist. He is speaking of a quest he is on to find definite proof the killing of the innocents actually occurred because the only documented evidence that exists in manuscript history can be found in one place. Such a record can be located in the New Testament within the gospel text according to Saint Matthew. You hear yourself say it did happen. I just witnessed it. The archaeologist goes on to state if the slaughter did occur, it could have been minor or major in proportion. He claims if the decree made by King Herod was only limited to the town of Bethlehem, there would have probably been only twenty to sixty male children below the age of two years old in the town at that particular time. But, he went on to state, if the decree went out to all the neighboring lands and states, THE KILLING OF THE INNOCENTS could have encompassed a population of approximately 20,000 to 60,000 male children under the age of two years old. When you hear those words and the possible number of infant deaths, you feel your heart weaken and you know something evil did occur at that time and whether it was 20 or 60,000 children who were killed, it does not matter. What is important to remember is young innocent infants were murdered because of the holiest event that ever happened relative to the history of Christian Faith. That sacred occurrence was the birth of Jesus Christ during what we call the first Christmas. Without a doubt, you believe in your heart you know which angels are the highest ranked angels in Heaven next to the archangels Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael. They are the seraphim angels who are all of those children who were executed in Bethlehem and other surrounding lands during that first Christmas season when all seemed so right. They reign among that particular group of angels. You have the privilege of knowing Jesus was aware of the sacrifice and by listening to a song titled The Killing Of The Innocents, you are aware The Slaughter has now been documented for a second time over 2000 years later.

With great pain in your heart you walk away from this dreadful scene that is part of your magical journey and one that unfortunately symbolizes the downside of Christmas which is rarely discussed. You need something good to happen and behold, right over the nearby hilltop and around another curve in the road you find it. In the next scene you see yourself again with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they escape to Egypt. Just prior to the killing of the innocents, the holy family was warned by an angel they were in danger and should flee from Bethlehem. They heeded the advice and were able to escape the onslaught. They traveled quickly and quietly. You then observe yourself walking beside them. You see yourself glance at little Jesus and feel a sense of hope stir in your heart because of what the prophets of old have predicted. They stated a Messiah would be born and rule the world with love. When the holy family decides to rest, you witness yourself sitting next to Mary and her child. For some reason you watch yourself as you look upon Jesus and realize you are able to read his thoughts. You hear Jesus tell you I REMEMBER the journey to Bethlehem while still in my mother's womb and how uncomfortable the ride was for both of them when they were sitting on the back of the donkey. He further tells you he remembers the angels singing, the smell of the hay, how gentle his father was to both his mother and him, and how the star shined so brightly in the sky over the manger and town of Bethlehem. Jesus further describes to you how he remembers the shepherds who came to visit, the wise men with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the little drummer boy who played with such joy and the animals who did not even stir by the interruption in their lives. But, the thing Jesus tells you he remembers most is the expression of love that shown on his mother's smiling face as she held him and gazed into his eyes while in the stable. Yes, Jesus remembered all that happened during the first Christmas even the young lives that were taken because he was born. While observing Jesus you notice him stare directly into your eyes with a look of true love and you know by his expression, no matter what weaknesses you may have, he will always love you and never abandon you.

You turn away from this scene and realize your journey is almost over. You advance a few more steps on the road and suddenly find yourself in a desert town far to the East of Bethlehem. You discover everyone in the town staring upward at the sky and observing a new and bright star that appeared in the Heavens. They are all wondering and discussing among themselves what it may possibly mean. Then from out of the vast desert, you observe three wealthy men arrive on camels in search of shelter for the night. You see these men are decorated with fine gold and silver jewelry and wearing fancy garb only fit for those possessing much wealth and of high financial stature. Somehow you know such strange travelers are seldom seen in these parts because this is only a small village with poor people established along a narrow trade route leading to the West. These men seem very wise and speak to few. Everyone in the little hamlet considers them as arrogant, rich, and eccentric individuals who are just passing through and possess no interest in them or their village. You observe how the people in the town become nervous by the presence of these unusual gentlemen and how they try to overhear their conversations to discover their purpose and destination. You learn where they are going when the town people hear the wise guys discussing who they are seeking. You conclude they are following the new star in search of a prophesied king who will soon be born somewhere to the west of their residence. When the town people analyze the information, they become confused and brood amongst themselves while talking under their breath as they keep asking, WHO ARE THOSE WISE GUYS? Though there are only three of them present, you sense the people still fear the unknown and decide to just leave them alone. You watch as they demonstrate their frustration by scowling and kicking the sand when dealing with the dilemma whereby these three wise guys claim there will soon be a newborn king born who will be greater than their tyrant ruler named Caesar. Their conversations become heated and inconclusive and as the night progresses, their frustration leads to tiredness, eventual calm, and quietness amongst them. Though the wise men remain on alert, you observe them rest through the night undisturbed by the curious watchers settled near by. Slowly the night passes and the sun begins to rise. Without acknowledging anyone and sensing a strong intent in their hearts to find what they are in search of, you watch the three men pack up their possessions and prepare to set out on their way somewhere west and into the desert where they cannot be found. While watching their departure you hear the voice of a man standing in the back of the crowd ask one last time, who are those guys?

Tired of your long journey, you step back and away from this scene. You slowly turn to your left and notice a light shining dimly beyond some trees. You begin to walk towards it and realize you are coming to the end of the Christmas forest. You walk a little further beyond the timberline and find yourself on the edge of a great meadow with the quaint little home where you started your journey in distant view. You then see a small bench located there for you to rest, ponder, and pray. The invitation to relax is highly welcomed. You gently sit and look back at the forest from where you came and then ahead and across the meadow to where your journey began at the Christmas cottage. You are in no hurry now because you feel safe and unafraid. Feelings of peace and joy overcome you along with others of sadness because you feel sorry the ones you love most could not share this wonderful experience with you. You then place your elbows on your knees, head in your hands, and think about the main thread that was woven throughout the enchanted adventure and you come to terms with a decision that the entire journey and all of your wonderful Christmas memories are simply relative to the birth of Jesus Christ. You turn and stare back at the forest and say out loud I LOVE JESUS and you thank him for being such a big part of your life. You are aware no matter how good or bad things may become, Jesus will always be with you. You also know Jesus came into this world to do one great thing which was to try and make all things right. Finally, you realize he has set an example and it is our choice to live by his teachings or not. You then stand up and say good-bye to the enchanted forest behind you. You slowly turn and observe the snowy path leading across the meadow to the decorated little dwelling sitting on top of a small hill. Reluctantly, you take you first step and begin walking slowly in the direction towards the final destination of your journey.

Near the end of your walk on the path through the meadow you pause and take notice once again to the beauty of the cottage and how it is decorated in traditional garland of red, green and gold and strings of colored lights to welcome in the Christmas spirit. You are aware you have reached the REPRISE of your journey. You step up to the door, turn the knob, and slowly enter. Much to your surprise you find yourself greeted by your family and friends whom you love so much. They welcome your return, help you disrobe of your outer Winter garments, and joyfully present a toast to you and the wonder of Christmas. Without reservation, you cheerfully abide and join them. Many loving hugs and words of happiness are shared between all who are present and you feel overwhelmed once again by this entire magical Christmas experience that has befallen you. The glee continues among the group and for some reason, everyone seems to know just what kind of adventure you completed. You realize the gift given to you was one of love that somehow was given to them by some higher force who is instilled with such an unconditional essence. After many warm greetings and your feelings of amazement subside, you step aside to allow them to continue to make merry. You carefully sneak away from the crowd not to be noticed and take a seat in the comfortable rocking chair nestled in a corner near the fireplace where you previously sat before beginning your enchanted Christmas forest journey. You enjoy some peaceful moments of rest while sipping from a cup of cheer and listening to the crackling logs burning in the hearth. You then reflect upon your recent experiences. You feel a great resolve in your heart and quietly give thanks to our Lord for all his blessings. Feeling rested, quite content, and very much in a Christmas mood, you slowly stand, turn towards all who are present, and make a gesture to cause attention. A peaceful silence overcomes the cottage atmosphere and all eyes focus upon you. You stare back at those you love and slowly raise your cup of holiday cheer as a toast to them and solemnly say, have a red, green and gold Merry Christmas, and to all a good night.

Santa and Trenton.....

All photographs by Adrian M. Bianconi, Ph.D. (Dr. B.)