Shepherds

                A cool breeze skipped through the valley bringing a chill to Michael. He pulled his robe across his chest and turned his back to its breath. It was his watch. The other shepherds slept near the dying fire. He placed a few dead twigs on the fire. Why did he feel so uneasy tonight? The air itself seemed charged with excitement. The moonlight swept across the landscape making deep shadows under the scrubby trees and bushes, but danced like silvery butterflies on the backs of the quiet, resting sheep.

                “Ah, it will be a good night.” Michael consoled himself.  “There is no sign of a storm nor threat of wild animals. I will rest.”

                Michael chose the spotted shade of an old craggy olive tree, positioned himself so that he could see the sleeping sheep, then slid down its scrubby trunk giving his back a good rub. A restless shepherd stirred in his sleep, turned his backside to the fire, and continued his snoring. With a few grunts and whimpers the sheep changed positions then settled into a restful heap.

                Michael drew his knees to his chin, wrapped his robe around his legs and set his eyes on the moonlit sky. The moon was so bright that the stars shrank into nothingness against the night sky. One lone star struggled against its brightness. Michael gazed with interest at the star. It seemed to twinkle, disappear, and then reappear more brightly. Michael in his boredom found himself cheering the lone star on. Then to his amazement, the star burst into a brightness that dimmed the moon’s glow. Its light spread across the heavens then with a powerful beam swept the earth. Frantically, Michael leaped to his feet, tangling his hair in the snarled, mocking branches of the olive tree. The star seemed to rest over the city of Bethlehem.

                “Look,” he cried out, not realizing he was the only witness to this marvelous event.

                The sleeping shepherds leaped to their feet but immediately fell on their faces. They did not have time to wonder over the new star in the sky, for before them was the most magnificent creature they had ever seen.

                What could this be, but an angel? His robes were shimmering white, as white as the snow on a sunny morning. His appearance demanded respect and attention.

                Then the angel spoke, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, Christ the Lord. And this is how you will know what I say is true. You will find the new born baby in a stable with his mother. He will be wrapped tightly in newborn’s clothes, lying in a manger.”

                Suddenly the sky was filled with angels and the air stirred with the most beautiful music ever heard as angels sang,  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will to men.”

                As the shepherds stood watching, the angels faded into heavens. Michael turned to the other shepherds and said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this wonder that has come to pass.” The shepherds immediately left the sheep alone in the wilderness, and hurried into Bethlehem to find the baby.

                A new born lamb followed Michael as he hurried past the sleeping sheep. He reached down and gathered the lamb in his arms and hurried on with the other shepherds. They ducked into stables along the way, disturbing a shepherd or herdsman now and then but no baby. Then cutting through the alley ways between the stone buildings, they saw a light in a stable beneath the inn. There they saw Mary, Joseph, and the new born baby. He was wrapped tightly in swaddling clothes lying in the manger, just as the angel said. There they worshiped him.

 They then returned to their sheep, rejoicing. Morning was breaking, folks were up and preparing for a new day. A new day had indeed dawned for the whole world.  The shepherds shouted the good news along the way, “The savior, the Messiah, is born and is lying in a manger in Bethlehem!” Some believed, and hurried to worship him, others shook their heads in consternation.