While driving through one of our favorite Middle Tennessee towns — Franklin — we paused near the entrance of St. Philip Catholic Church to take a closer look at the Nativity laid out beautifully on the front lawn.
Nativity at St. Philip Catholic Church, Franklin, Tennessee
It was old-world, if you will — beautiful figures in colorful clothing, animals gathered ’round, all focused on the manger scene.
King bearing gifts at Nativity of St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin, Tennessee
But as we moved in for a closer look, we noticed something missing. Where is Baby Jesus? we wondered.
Just as we were looked into the stable, a woman jogging by stopped and said, Are you from out of town? Do you know the story of this Nativity? We admitted that we were from out of town and no, we didn’t know the story. She continued. I’ve lived here all my life. Grew up with this lovely old Nativity and adore it still. But a few years back someone stole the Baby Jesus. The church people got together and decided not to replace Him. Said they didn’t want to put another one in just so someone could remove one after another. And so, the manger is empty.
Manger scene missing Baby Jesus at St. Philip Catholic Church, Franklin, TN
I replied that I was sorry to hear about the theft, but a friend of mine had a different take on this. My friend, I said, actually purchased a Nativity from a store that had marked the set way down because there was no Baby Jesus.
But my friend bought it especially because the baby was missing. Her reasoning? ‘The Baby Jesus doesn’t live in a manger. He lives in our hearts.’
The lady jogger in Franklin loved the story. For her and for my friend who bought the Nativity missing the central figure, the Baby Jesus was gone but definitely not forgotten.
For more entries in this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Gone But Not Forgotten, click here.