You’re just doing your job, unseen, unheard and generally ignored by society at large. You are, after all, near the bottom of the social ladder, basically doing the grunt work; and working the night shift, no less.
Then of all the people on the planet, God drops the news on you, scaring you witless. But your job requires a calm demeanor and you have sense enough to listen to and consider this outlandish message.
The messengers leave. The night is once again quiet. But something has changed. You talk it over, come to a decision. You decide to go into town and see for yourselves.
Things will never be the same.
Luke, the physician, writes you into history. At every telling of the story you will be remembered for your faith: For hearing, For going. For telling. You have been granted a front row seat to the event on which history will turn.
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
Merry Christmas everyone.
The Outdoor Notebook 