Peakah's Provocations...

As our family gathers together for the Christmas holiday there has been much discussion amongst the children about the gifts under the tree and their speculation of what may lie under the wrapping paper. True beauty exists in the glow of their eyes as they wonder and anticipate what could be in that gift for them. I also love to soak in the georgeous smile on my wife's face as she prepares to feed all the gathering family members.

There really is nothing like the Christmas season, beginning with Thanksgiving, to remind us of all of our blessings and to especially remind us of the sacrifices made by our elders that provided these blessings. The most important sacrifice is that of our Savior who laid his life down for us to create the bridge to eternal life with Heavenly Father.

Tis the season we celebrate Jesus's birth and speculate in awe of what that birth means for all of mankind.

I found a story on World Net Daily that I wanted to share.

What did Jesus Christ of Nazareth look like as a boy?

While no one knows for certain, forensic experts are now using computer images from the Shroud of Turin along with historical data and other ancient images to make an educated guess.

The group points out the facial proportions between the nose and eyebrow, as well as the shape of the jaw are identical to those on the shroud, which is a piece of linen some believe to be the actual burial cloth of Jesus after he was crucified.

The resulting image shows a fair-skinned child with blond, wavy hair and dark eyes.

"We made a rigorous effort based on the Shroud of Turin, but it's clear that the data at our disposal were limited," police official Carlo Bui told the Italian paper Corriere della Sera. "Let's say we have made an excellent hypothesis."

The New Testament does refer to linens in connection with Jesus' burial, recounted when Jesus' disciples went to his tomb:

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. (John 20:3-7)

And so we have this as the result of this forensic research...
Is it for real? Who knows... it really doesn't matter.
It did provide me a few chills and definatelly reminded me of the reason we celebrate the Christmas Holiday. Isn't that all that really matters? I hope all of you out there in the ether get touched with the sacredness of the Christmas holiday. Teach your children what the real meaning of Christmas is. Absorb the magic and wonder of the season and take an inventory of all around you. It may still have existed without the birth of Jesus but would it have had the same significance? I don't think so.

With love,
The McPeaks