A story of stories

Close your eyes and picture this...

Okay, keep your eyes open, I know it is quiet difficult to read with your eyes shut.

Imagine you are at work sitting at your desk, working on the assembly line, inside an engine, checking out groceries, wherever you work you are there and busy doing your thing minding your own business.

Then all of a sudden a great big glowing (person?) Comes out of the roof and stops you in your tracks!  Like what in the world is going on here?  You look you around to make sure others are seeing what you are seeing because its the holidays, you've been stressed out a bit and had a little more wine than normal the night before.  Yup, they all looked as freaked out as you do.  Good!  You are not going insane.

But wait!  It is starting to speak!  The building's people suddenly quiet down to listen.

"Do not be afraid!"

Sure...you just suddenly showed up...even terrorists tell us not to fear...

"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people."

....uh...all people?  Good news to all people?  Sure, if you say so....

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

...hmmm...I remember camp fire stories about this savior that my great grand parents grand parents have been waiting for forever.  But the town of David?  Does this guy know how many Davids there are in the world?  Even if we wanted to check it out for my family's sake, I would have no clue as to where to even start looking.

"This will be a sign to you: you will a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

...uh...that doesn't help...

WHAT the WHAT is that?!?!

A bunch of other (people?) Just appeared out of the roof singing!  They sound so soothing, like Pentonix.  Their harmonies are perfect.  What is it they are singing?

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Mesmerized.  In awe.  A bit shocked all of this is happening to you at work, but you are filled with something you haven't felt in a long time.

Peace.

Understanding.

Adventure.

You don't know why, but you know what you must now do...go to the town of David.  Suddenly, you know where this town is.  It really isn't far from you.  Your co workers come with you on this journey.  They just know that this must happen. 

You hop in your car and find the barn. (How did the car know what barn?) 

Slowly you get out of the car and go walk around the house to the back.  I wonder if the people in the house know what just happened in their barn?

There it is!  A small tool shed turned into a lean to for the animals.  Man, if the human society saw this they would have a fit! But wait!

You see two people!  Is that a? It is!

They are holding a new born baby!  Oh, but the night air! The smell!  This isn't where a baby should have born unless it has four legs.  But it was.

He was born here.  The Christ!  The savior my family has talked about for as long as you can remember!

You wonder if they would let you hold him just for a second?

No, there is something more important that needs to be done first.

You take out your cell phone and quietly take a picture of the most perfect scene the world has ever laid on eyes.  The you Instagram it and link the picture to Facebook and twitter.  You tell your story of the must be angels that suddenly appeared to you and of your journey to seeing the Messiah.  You are still amazed at what you just experienced.

You go home, kiss your kids and tell your spouse of your day.  You are filled with joy beyond anything you have ever imagined possible.  That joy gets shared over and over with your family and friends.  Even if they may not understand it's full meaning just yet, they know it is there waiting for when they are ready. And this knowledge helps you to rest easier and not worry about the ham that still needs to be cooked for dinner tonight.

Now open your eyes.  ☺

I have read Luke 2 so many times, but the one thing that popped out to me this morning was that the angels not once told the shepherds what to do.  The angels brought the message and then left.  Then the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem to see for themselves.  I wonder if they were making sure the angels were not lying to them or if they just needed to see it for themselves before they could share it with their world?  Maybe it was a bit of both.

My prayer for all of us no matter where you are in life is that you can experience that joy beyond explanation.  Whether its from  opening that perfect gift or my favorite, watching others open the gift you gave them.  Maybe no gifts are involved and it is simply the joy of knowing you are loved... because you are.  More deeply than you ever thought possible.