Celebrate Like the Shepherds

 The Christmas season ended last Sunday, but my decorations are still up. I have been busy in some ways, reluctant to let go of the good feelings of Christmas this year in other ways. I am okay with the tree lights shining. I still turn it on when I sit in the living room. I am not over Christmas yet.

In the Christmas story I suppose I most identify with the shepherds.  They were told about the birth of Jesus by the angels.  They decided to go to Bethlehem and see for themselves.  They saw and were amazed.  They returned home glorifying and praising God.

This year in one of my meditation times I considered the shepherds more closely, more intimately.  Of course, I really have no idea how it all went down, I can only imagine.  Imagine that you had a lower class job, smelly, ignorant, on the edges of society.  Imagine that you were one of the marginalized persons in the world.  But, angels came and told you something so big and amazing that you had to see it for yourself.  And you went and saw and were amazed.  How would your life be changed?  What would you do going forward?

I can only imagine that the shepherds celebrated.  I imagined they laughed and partied.  I wonder if any of them changed their lives? Surely at the very least they would remember that event for the rest of their lives. So this year I will celebrate like the shepherds. I want to keep the Christ in the central view of my life.  I want to remember to celebrate. Celebrate like the shepherds. How is that for a New Year's resolution?