My mom's concerned about what this communicates
to neighbors and friends. 

I told her it will inspire people to ask, "Where is Jesus?"  And that's a very good question.  She's worried it will tell them, we don't have Jesus.  Or that we've lost Jesus.  I told her not to worry, it will simply tell them we are deep and we're introducing a very important conversation.  It's now not only a nativity, it is a piece of art, a social conversation.  It inspires questions and infers seeking.