And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. And an angel of God appeared to them and the glory of God shone on them and they became very afraid. But, the angel said to them “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy, that will be for ALL the people” —Luke 2: 8,9 (NIV)
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I can imagine the shepherds that night, perhaps sitting chatting by a fire at the end of the evening. They must have felt at home in their place of work, comfortable in the routine of one more evening of the same old routine.
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God, I believe, often breaks into our places of routine and comfort. His surprise may come in the birth of a child, the death of a friend or a great flood. It is interesting to see in Scripture that the appearance of angels does not in itself always result in fear. I wonder what it was about these angels that frightened the shepherds?
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Change by itself is not necessarily frightening, but I think it is the surprise of moving out and away from the familiar. Our routine may feel like the welcome place, but often it is the extraordinary miracles of life that bring us to a new place of welcome.
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Gracious God of surprise, may we be attentive this Advent season to the new ways you draw us to yourself. May the places of surprise in our lives lead us to see the gift of new life you offer us.
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Deirdré Halliburton
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