The Advent as Described by a Shepherd

The first thing we felt was the silence.  A strange hush seemed to settle over the landscape.  Nights were normally quiet, but this silence was decidedly unnatural.  We all seemed to notice the silence at the same time, though none of us was willing to speak.  Then, we saw something strange; a light appeared at the horizon, a light like nothing we had ever seen.  It was impossibly bright, brighter than the midday sun on the clearest day, and yet we could stare directly at it without blinking.  Fast as a bolt of lightning, it approached.

As it stopped, it took the form of a man.  He was dressed as a soldier, with a sword attached to his belt.  His clothes glowed white; they were the source of the light.  Though he made no threatening move, each of us knew he could have killed us in a heartbeat.  We were too terrified to run; we fell to our knees in fear.  Then he spoke.

“Fear not!”  His voice thundered.  We found ourselves gaining courage, though not from ourselves.  “I have been sent to bring you good news, joyful news, for everyone.  Today in Bethlehem, your Savior has been born; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  Look for this sign: look for a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Thousands of men and women suddenly joined the man, all dressed as he was.  They were each armed; the least of them would have been terrifying, if not for the command of the first not to fear.

The army was singing, their voices distinct, but repeating one message: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

Without warning, the company disappeared, leaving no trace of their existence, save the courage that filled each of our hearts, nearly to bursting.  One of us said what we were each thinking: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

In Bethlehem, we found everything exactly as the angel had described.  We bowed to worship the child and marveled that the Lord would choose us to witness arrival of the Savior.  We went on our way, continuing to praise God, and telling everyone what we had seen.