The Little Drummer Boy is one of my favorite Christmas carols. I enjoy versions sung by a boys’ choir, but I have to admit my favorite versions are those arranged by rock bands. I might be aging myself, but I think my favorite version is by Audio Adrenaline, although, the band, For King and Country, created an entire concert around this carol. I highly recommend it. The story in this carol of sweet innocence, the sudden recognition of Deity, and a desire to offer something in worship inspire me to wonder: What can I do?
As the story goes, the little boy is invited to come see the newborn King. “Bring your finest gift to honor him!” they say. However, he is a poor boy and has no gift to give. Or does he? He has his drum. Or maybe it is his job? Maybe he is a child prodigy and has a natural gift for “Patapan.” Maybe he taps his drum to help soldiers march in unison. Maybe he drives his mother to the brink of her nerves so she drives him from the house to rat-a-tat-tat his drum elsewhere! I can imagine him stomping to the grove of palm trees behind his parents’ property to play his drum for the bugs and the branches. Maybe it was there he wrote the song he was meant to play. Picture it: There he is at the manger in his moment he didn’t know would come. Mother Mary nods her approval, and the animals join in to keep time. He plays his very best for Jesus. This leads to the most important of all the lyrics: Then He smiled at me.
The story of this carol reminds me of another one. It is a true story found in the Gospels: the story of Mary of Bethany. The Mary in this story is not nearly as innocent as the little drummer boy. However, her heart is full of faith, love, and a desire to worship the King. She takes what she has: a very expensive alabaster jar of perfume. She breaks the jar. Why does she break the jar? It can never be used for anything else. I think there is a lesson in that. Mary pours the perfume on the feet of Jesus to anoint him. She weeps at his feet and dries them with her hair. The aroma is quite pungent and fills the room. Jesus smiles at her.
However, there are others in the room who are not so moved as He. Their nostrils are offended at the offering. To them, this display was obnoxious. Maybe as obnoxious as a drum solo at a baby shower. One of Jesus’ own disciples declares this act a waste! A waste! He must have recognized that aroma since he knew its monetary value. It could have been sold and the money spent on the poor (or maybe on himself). A religious person was there who labeled the offering unclean, unholy, a travesty! Nevertheless, Mary continues to weep at His feet, continues to wipe them with her hair, and continues to worship the King. Pah rum pum pum pum. Jesus commands the complainers, “Leave her alone!” This silences them. He goes on to say, “Wherever the Gospel is preached, what she is doing will be told in remembrance of her.” Her story is in all four Gospels. Jesus smiled at her. He smiled at her and her jar. Pah rum pum pum pum.
So what does this have to do with us as artists? When we are inspired to use our talents as a way to worship, no matter the reaction from anyone else, our focus is on King Jesus. We play our drum to honor him. We break our jar to worship him. So I encourage you:
- Paint your canvas
- Write your poem
- Tell your story
- Preach your sermon
- Give your money
- Wave your flag
- Sing your song
- Play your instrument
- Dance your dance
- Beat your drum, break your jar and WORSHIP THE KING!
Then he smiled at me pah rum pum pum pum … me and my …
~ Stephanie Rogers, writer
~ Raquel Swardson, painter
