Robert Benson

The Night of the Child: Photographs from the Upper Room Museum Nativity Collection Robert Benson

Blending word and image, The Night of the Child offers a spiritual feast for the mind and heart, the eye and ear. Scripture, thoughtful text, and detailed photographic images from the Nativity Collection of The Upper Room Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, provide a new and fresh approach to the wonder of Incarnation.

Over many years The Upper Room Museum has collected Nativity sets from donors from around the world. These visual reminders of the birth of Jesus teach us that the love of God knows no boundaries. The Nativity sets represent many cultures and nations. The variety of materials range from clay to gourds, thorn wood to porcelain to a coconut shell and a starfish. The Night of the Child shows us these Nativity scenes and offers such detailed images that we see in the isolated details a word of proclamation coming from an American Southwest Joseph, serenity radiating from a Bolivian Mary, wisdom from Korean magi, joy from those who visit the baby Jesus. These visual details connect us with sisters and brothers in Christ from around the world and in many different eras.

Robert Benson's thoughtful reflection provides a spiritual oasis in the midst of the busyness of the Christmas season. Benson moves us to see God's promise and the faith, hope, and love that we know in the birth of Jesus.

A CD featuring Benson reading portions of the book with musical interludes by Carol McClure, master harpist is also available.