Be the Telling

Gather up the children. It is time to tell the Christmas story.

It is the season of the Telling.

It is a story that has been told since the first night of the mystical, precious, holy events.

There was a first time the Christmas story was told.

 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” “

Luke 2:8-15

 

This is the first Christmas story telling in the bible after Jesus is born.

These are the first people to whom it is told.

These are the first words used for the telling.

I’ve heard it a million times…and, this year I am paying attention.

 

I think about the people to whom it was told.

Dirty, smelly shepherds. Hard workers. Daily mundane tasks. Faithful, day in and day out. Probably not too involved with the affairs in the town.

Shepherds…poor, dirty, smelly…probably would not mind going to see a King in a stable. They would be comfortable.

 

I think about the context.

The night shift.

Tired. Quiet. Dark.

 

Into this scene burst the light. The Telling.

The people, the context…these are important.

 

It is the words that capture my attention.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest…and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.” “

 

NO FEAR. GREAT JOY. TODAY. A SIGN.

PEACE…GOODWILL TOWARD MEN.

What a statement God made that night.

 

I hear a message…one that I have not noticed before. Do you hear it, too?

 

I have goodwill toward men (and women). I have good will toward you. I intend peace for you. Do not fear. There is great joy.

Today.

TODAY.

Here is the sign.

Here is the proof.

I have goodwill toward you.

I have a plan.

You haven’t deserved it. You probably feel like you are beyond hope.

But, I have goodwill toward you.

BUT.

BUT…I HAVE GOODWILL TOWARD YOU.

 

Do you hear that message, too?

 

Today I want to take my cue from God’s orchestrated first telling. I want to embody that telling. I want to posture myself toward others the same way He did towards humanity that night.

I want God to know I would be comfortable in a stable. He can trust me with the Telling…and where it might take me. He can trust me with places that are smelly, dirty, dark, and poor…in more ways that one.

 

I want to be worthy of the night shift.

 

Even as I receive the telling myself, I want to pass it on…to look into the eyes of those who believe they are beyond hope…and shine the light of that first telling with everything within me.

NO FEAR. GREAT JOY. TODAY. A SIGN.

PEACE…GOODWILL TOWARD MEN.

This Christmas…and all the year…may we hear the telling…may we be the telling.

 

***Picture is  called “Angels Announcing Christ’s Birth to the Shepherds” by Dutch artist Govaert Flink