Walt Disney and the Red dress

I happen to have one of those minds that stores useless pieces of information and trivia. It serves no purpose at all other than when it comes to games of Trivial Pursuit or the occasional quiz. Even then some of the information I have stored in my head I know will never be of any use.

One of my favourite Trivia stories concerns the film maker Walt Disney. The story goes, fairly early on in the history of the Disney Studios, Walt turned up on the set of one of their live action films and saw the female lead in the film walking onto set wearing a red dress, as soon as he saw her Walt is supposed to have said, “What is that girl doing in a red dress?” The director, producer and all the studio people took it to mean that Mr Disney did not like the colour red and that is why, if you watch the early Disney Films you will not see any of the lead actresses wearing a red dress!! How is that for trivial information?

The truth is what Walt Disney actually meant was, “What is That girl doing in a red dress”. It was not the colour he disliked but rather he did not think it suited the particular actress. It is amazing how just a slight change in emphasis can completely change the meaning of a statement.

We are, of course, all familiar with the nativity story. We possibly might even be able to claim that we can recite it off by heart but what if we change the emphasis? Every year we listen to the beautiful story of the nativity and the last few words of Luke 2:7 almost go unnoticed, “ She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a manger, (WHY?)…because there was no room for them in the inn.” The story of the unmentioned innkeeper is the subject of another blog, but for now just read the last nine words and change the emphasis…. “…because there was no room for THEM in the inn”

Over the centuries it would seem little has changed. WE can make time and room for friends, for people that we want to mix with. At Christmas we make sure we have time and room for all the festivities , fun and food but it would seem on our High Streets, in our Town Halls, in our schools we cannot make room for THEM. We do not make room for Mary and the Christ Child.

It occurs to me, at the danger of sounding controversial, in 21st century Britain we do our best to make room for the multi-faith approach. We make the effort to be welcoming to all faiths and persuasions but at what price? “Happy Holidays”, “Winter Festival” “Winter Solstice” all around we see more and more alternative names for Christmas in order that we might not offend….. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” Rev 3:20.

In the words of the Carol, “Do you hear what I hear?” Will you have room this Christmas for the Christ Child?