The Return of Eric and Ernie

The baby in the manger who left the riches of heaven for poverty on earth

In spring 2020 I wrote an article in the Coleshill Post about the notorious pair of donkeys at Southfields Farm – Eric and Ernie. The article was intended for publication just before Easter, to highlight the dramatic role that the donkeys play in the Palm Sunday parade in Coleshill. But, Covid kept the donkeys in their paddock. The lockdown meant that it was early summer when the Coleshill Post was delivered. 

Now as we go into December 2022, preparations are being made at Southfields Farm for a schools event, ‘Journey to the Stable’. Guess who will be part of ‘the journey’?! Over the course of 2 days, 7th and 8th December, 12 classes of year 2 pupils from local schools will experience the Christmas Story. A large team of volunteers, mainly grandparents, will be helping to create an atmosphere of exploration and adventure. The costumes have progressed over the years; it’s a lot more than just a tea-towel around the head! 

Having a real baby with its mother in the ‘Stable’, is always the icing on the cake; the children’s faces light up as they finally reach their destination. This year there will be another special baby and his mother, sharing the space with an assortment of 4 legged animals in a draughty barn. It probably won’t be as cold as the first year that Coleshill churches arranged ‘Journey to the Stable (J2S)’. In 2010, December 8th, the temperatures barely rose above zero during the day and the shepherds were looking for their frozen sheep on a white churchyard.

Now some of the readers will know that the bible narrative of the birth of Jesus does not mention a donkey, let alone two. Stories that get passed down the generations are often embellished, especially when translated into different languages and cultures over the course of 2000 years. Much of what we know regarding the birth of Jesus is found in the gospel of Luke, with further details in Matthew. Luke specifically mentions in his introduction that he has based his account on records from eye-witnesses. This is of vital, critical importance. I will illustrate this point: While writing this piece, I was trying to recall the details of the first time that I helped with J2S, I was convinced it must have been in the year 2008. However I contacted the lady who took the role of Mary and verified the current age of ‘baby Jesus’ and realised that I was 2 years amiss. Then I managed to check local weather records to verify what I thought had been an exceptionally cold day with day temperatures at -7, to discover that although very cold, it wasn’t that bad! Yes, our memories can quickly deceive us older ones!

But returning to Eric and Ernie, even if they weren’t in the original story, what would they make of it? Well, centuries before the birth of Jesus, there is an account in the bible of a donkey being given a voice to speak to his master! It was a stern rebuke to a foolish man who had acted against his better judgement in order to earn more money. So intent was he on his mission, that he had thrice beat his faithful donkey. (The whole saga is found in the book of Numbers 22-25).  What a contrast to the baby in the manger who left the riches of heaven for poverty on earth. So, Eric and Ernie, who would you rather have for your master?

Carols at the Stable December 11th 4pm at Southfields Farm, Packington Lane Coleshill B46 3EJ

Author: Richard Windridge

May God bless and enrich your life

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