Nativity Wars

If I were a Christian missionary, I would be heartened by the myriad of nativity scenes that adorn the streets and front yards of Dili at Christmas time. I would feel satisfied that my work was done. I would stroll merrily along the road and happily remark to myself, “Oh, isn’t this one lovely! It’s made out of wood! Look! That one’s made entirely out of recycled plastic bottles!! How inventive! There’s another one. It’s made out of little blow-up dolls and it’s decorated with pretty little lights. There’s Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the three wise men. But ...hang on a minute... Is that ... Santa? Oh dear.”

A short time later, perhaps after dark, I would at first be intrigued by the groups of young boys that appear to be hanging around these make-shift stables, drinking beer and listening to loud music. This would very quickly turn into all out horror as I witness the thievery that takes place when a group’s back is turned. Steal a Jesus from one, only to have your own Mary taken away by someone else.

“Somewhere along the way”, I would muse, “We seem to have got our wires crossed”.