Stepping into a New Year

It was like most other days…nothing happening that would catch their attention. They were working, watching, and thinking. There seemed to be a lot of time to think. Others who worked in the daytime were sleeping, at home with loved ones; he and the other on the night shift had to work. Because they were outside, they were chilled from the night air. They were aware that danger might be lurking nearby, but that thought alone helped them stay awake, when they really wanted to nod off for a while. Gazing into the night skies often caused them to wonder if they were really as satisfied with life as they pretended to be. But such star-gazing was one way to help them to overcome the sheer boredom of their night-shift job. An occasional shooting star, or the brightness of a full moon, would catch their attention, but such occasions often stirred something deep within them. The monotony of their usually quiet life sometimes thrust them into darkened moods that disturbed them. Whenever that happened, they were glad to hear the sounds of their startled sheep, because it jerked them out of their discouragement, thrusting them back into the reality of their present life with its mundane responsibilities. Could anything ever happen that would fulfill that longing that they felt when they were quiet enough and willing enough to acknowledge the emptiness of soul.
          Then it happened. It was the brightest light that they had ever seen. Stunned into silence, they heard the message: “I bring you tidings of great joy,” the heavenly messenger said, after he spoke to assure them that they should not be afraid of him or of the message.  “The Messiah, the Savior of the world, has been born.” The instructions about how the shepherds could find this “Source of great joy” was quickly followed by an angelic chorus, filling the heavens with glory and praise to the God who loved His creation enough to bring about the way of true joy. The Son of God Himself had come to win His creation back.
         The shepherds were jubilant, or course, praising God and sharing their joy with everyone who would listen. But, then they went back to their sheep. But this time, the night shift seemed different. Their perspective on life, and on its difficulties or mundaneness, was different. Their hearts were filled with joy and praise, with wonder and excitement. They were told the message, and they responded. They saw for themselves, and they were changed. They praised, and the joy of hope welled up in their hearts. They were loved. They were important after all. Their lives could be filled with the true meaning for which God had created them.
         No matter how life is treating us, whether it is good or bad, there is a message that we must believe, if we want to experience the joy that both God and we want. There is meaning in life and joy unspeakable when we believe the message and “go see for ourselves. When we go and then spread the message of praise to others, our lives take on new meaning. What will you do as you face a new and unknown year? “Come and see…then go and tell.”

                                                                                             -Alice Cullinan