Even On The Night Shift

 

And in the same region,

there were shepherds

        out in the field,

keeping watch

  over their flock by night.

          Luke 2. 8

(Shepherds in those days

   were the lowest of the low

   on the social ladder.

And these guys

    even had the night shift.

It was dark.  It was cold.

And how in the world

   did their work matter?

God has granted to each of us

     a patch of ground

     in which to be faithful,

  or a flock of sheep or souls

          to care for.

God strategically placed

      these shepherds

                 --and us--

to witness the wonders

     of His Presence

in unexpected and unlikely ways.

And make Him known

      to all the world.

It is dark.  It is cold.

The light show

             is not just coming.

Jesus is here.)

O LORD,

This is Christmas Eve,

when we celebrate

  what is coming,

  and what is here.

You gave us not just a story

  about a cute little baby,

but of the Savior of the world.

You are real.

May our lives and hearts,

our actions

      and conversations

be radically changed

              by You.

Help us to make You known

  no matter where

  You have placed us today.