Day 20

Luke 2: 13-14

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,

   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

Missing Out?

On the hillside it is a still and silent night. Over your head, the stars fill the velvet canopy  – dazzling and twinkling. So close, you feel you could reach out and touch them.  The warm air of the day is giving over to the chill of the night. The sheep close by are rustling and methodically tugging at the sparse grass. All that breaks the stillness is the faint noise of laughter and singing from the town below, with a dim glow from candle lit homes. The crackling of the fire gives warmth,  and you huddle close and talk in low voices with the others, so as not to disturb the peace.  The night stretches before you – but you are shepherds – hard ground, cold nights and missing out. Well? It’s your life.

Suddenly! Your world is changed.  A light so bright, that shielding your eyes does not block it out and a sound so sweet, you know your heart will yearn for it forever. Even the sheep stop their infernal munching.  There is a voice – one like you have never heard before – and on listening to the words your heart knows; it is not just your world that has changed – but the world.   The Saviour is born.  Things will never be the same again.

Helen W