My roommate Sam has a sister who lives on an acreage just outside of the city, so we drove out there with a couple of friends the other night to watch the eclipse. We arrived early, so we walked through the sheep pen - I wanted to see how much their lamb had grown since I last saw him.
Hanging out with sheep under the starry night sky brought to life a familiar piece of the Christmas story. As I stood outside looking up at the stars, I tried to imagine what it might have been like for the shepherds when the angel of the Lord appeared. I imagined terror giving way to feelings of joy as the angel shared its message.
God's promise to send the Messiah had been fulfilled. He who would save his people from their sins had come to earth. Imagine being among the first to hear this good news. Imagine a quiet night amidst fields of sheep interrupted by a joyful greeting from an angel of the Lord. Imagine a great company of the heavenly host descending to praise God. The joy of that moment must have been pervasive. Inescapable. Magnificent.
If you can, find a quiet evening moment to spend outside. Let the joy of Immanuel, God with us, invade your experience of Christmas this year.
