The Shepherd's Story
Dec. 23rd, 2006 22:28![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mapsedgeThe presentation I'll be doing tomorrow in church.
You all know the story. I'm certain that everyone of you here has heard it at least once a year every year of your lives, the story of the birth of the messiah, the birth of Jesus. The portion of the story that concerns me is the part where the shepherds come in.
And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
That part, yes. You see, I was there. I am one of those shepherds. When you read it in the scriptures it sounds so poetic, but I'm afraid the actual truth of that day is a little more prosaic.
I wasn't even supposed to be there, but my wife and I had had a fight. While I was out that morning, gone to Bethlehem on some errand or other, a merchant caravan had come across our camp and my wife had purchased a bit of fabric. When she described the man I knew exactly who it was. An Ethiopian or Egyptian, a man with a big smile and a bigger belly who talked too much and too fast. I disapproved of the purchase - even though it was too late to do anything about it - and we argued. I determined that I would spend that night in the fields with my brother and our cousin, helping to watch the flock, while both our tempers cooled.
So there I was, shivering on a hillock, waiting for this sheep or that sheep to drop a lamb or get lost in the dark in spite of the bellewether goat. I was angry at my wife for the purchase. I was angry at the merchant who sold her the fabric. I was angry at my brother for taking her side. I was angry at my cousin who wouldn't shut up about it.
Mostly, I was angry at myself for being angry.
It was in the middle of these dark thoughts that a being of surpassing whiteness appeared before me, his arms outstretched, his mouth wide in a smile.
Now, I've as much knowledge of the scriptures as most men, and I recognized this angel for what he was and understood that most of the time that an angel appears it is to lay waste to some town or other. Now, I would happily have seen my wife as a pillar of salt earlier that day, but faced with the real opportunity I wasn't so sure anymore and thus I did what any sane man would do under the circumstances: I dropped to the ground and buried my face in the dirt.
A breath or two later, I heard the thumps of my brother and our cousin doing the same.
As I considered my dusty options, a warm and gentle touch on my shoulder raised me to my feet, and I looked into the eyes of the angel. He said something to me that in hindsight is rather amusing: he said, "Don't be afraid."
Mm-hmm. No worries there, I wasn't afraid. I was terrified. Still, his face was so gentle and so full of joy, I began to wonder what he would tell me. He said again, "Don't be afraid." And then, "I've brought you good news, joyous news, not just for you but for everyone!"
You know the rest. We made the hour's walk to Bethlehem and met the babe, spread the news to anyone who would listen. What I hope you come away from my story with is that if a man like me - a stupid stubborn angry man with no sense in his head - if that message is for me, then maybe...just maybe...it's for you, too.
For unto us... all... a savior is born.
You all know the story. I'm certain that everyone of you here has heard it at least once a year every year of your lives, the story of the birth of the messiah, the birth of Jesus. The portion of the story that concerns me is the part where the shepherds come in.
And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
That part, yes. You see, I was there. I am one of those shepherds. When you read it in the scriptures it sounds so poetic, but I'm afraid the actual truth of that day is a little more prosaic.
I wasn't even supposed to be there, but my wife and I had had a fight. While I was out that morning, gone to Bethlehem on some errand or other, a merchant caravan had come across our camp and my wife had purchased a bit of fabric. When she described the man I knew exactly who it was. An Ethiopian or Egyptian, a man with a big smile and a bigger belly who talked too much and too fast. I disapproved of the purchase - even though it was too late to do anything about it - and we argued. I determined that I would spend that night in the fields with my brother and our cousin, helping to watch the flock, while both our tempers cooled.
So there I was, shivering on a hillock, waiting for this sheep or that sheep to drop a lamb or get lost in the dark in spite of the bellewether goat. I was angry at my wife for the purchase. I was angry at the merchant who sold her the fabric. I was angry at my brother for taking her side. I was angry at my cousin who wouldn't shut up about it.
Mostly, I was angry at myself for being angry.
It was in the middle of these dark thoughts that a being of surpassing whiteness appeared before me, his arms outstretched, his mouth wide in a smile.
Now, I've as much knowledge of the scriptures as most men, and I recognized this angel for what he was and understood that most of the time that an angel appears it is to lay waste to some town or other. Now, I would happily have seen my wife as a pillar of salt earlier that day, but faced with the real opportunity I wasn't so sure anymore and thus I did what any sane man would do under the circumstances: I dropped to the ground and buried my face in the dirt.
A breath or two later, I heard the thumps of my brother and our cousin doing the same.
As I considered my dusty options, a warm and gentle touch on my shoulder raised me to my feet, and I looked into the eyes of the angel. He said something to me that in hindsight is rather amusing: he said, "Don't be afraid."
Mm-hmm. No worries there, I wasn't afraid. I was terrified. Still, his face was so gentle and so full of joy, I began to wonder what he would tell me. He said again, "Don't be afraid." And then, "I've brought you good news, joyous news, not just for you but for everyone!"
You know the rest. We made the hour's walk to Bethlehem and met the babe, spread the news to anyone who would listen. What I hope you come away from my story with is that if a man like me - a stupid stubborn angry man with no sense in his head - if that message is for me, then maybe...just maybe...it's for you, too.
For unto us... all... a savior is born.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-12-25 22:45 (UTC)I'm sure it was very well received, and if just one person got the message...you know?
*hugs*
Merry Christmas!