Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare
the glory of God;
and the firmament
sheweth his handywork.
There
is a song floating on the wind this night. My fellow stars, the moon, and all
the heavenly bodies hum in happy praise. I join in with them, shining bright
and happy. Something is about to happen.
I search the earth below me for the
cause of the excitement racing through the skies. Shepherds nestled down with
their fuzzy sheep. A couple traveling on the road leading into Bethlehem .
Miles away from them, men pouring over scrolls and gazing up at us. It all looks the same as other nights. But it
is not the same. I know it is not. Never before, since my birth at the
creation, have I felt the heavens so alive with anticipation.
I look closer at the sleepy world
below. What is different? The shepherds are there every night. The men with
scrolls have been watching us for months. The travelers perhaps? There have
been many traveling lately, but not usually at night.
It takes me a moment to find them
again. They have made it to the city. The man is standing outside the door to a
building. An inn, I think.
I wish I could get closer. That is
the problem with being a star. I can see nearly everything, but nothing very close.
The traveler’s donkey brays
mournfully and the sound travels to me in the clear air. The woman leans on his
neck. She looks tired. The man turns from the door, and his step is urgent when
he returns to her. He takes the donkey’s lead in one hand, and puts the other
around her shoulders. He handles her with care as he pulls her toward a stable.
They disappear inside and are lost to me.
Curiosity pulses in me. The song
continues around me. The air still crackles with joy. Why? What is going on?
I try to listen past the strange
song, to the sounds of the night. A few restless lambs bleating, a shepherd’s
soft murmur, a cry. It sounds like pain, but I cannot be sure. I have never
been part of the feelings of the breathing creation. Where is the sound coming
from? I try to see.
The shepherds do not seem to hear
it, and the sheep are quiet now. Bethlehem
then. I watch, but no one comes out of the inn, even though the crying
continues. Maybe I am mistaken, and it is not pain I hear. Why would pain
prompt this song? I do not understand.
As if signaled by my thoughts, the
music builds to a crescendo, filling the heavens with joy so loud I want to
forget my wonders and join in. Before I can start, everything goes silent. The
music stops and the world seems to hold it’s breath. What...?
A sound pierces the night air. The
strong, clear noise of a baby cry.
All the heavenly bodies draw closer
to hear. I hope to catch some kind of view of whatever is happening.
So intent am I on the little stable
that I am startled when the messenger glides to my side. His glow is enough to
match mine, and he smiles when he sees he has my attention. “Shine, little
Bachir. Almighty God has chosen you to mark the place of His Son.”
I want to ask questions. Why me?
How long? Who is His Son? But he shakes his head and flies off.
I do as he said, shining brighter
and watching his path as he wings down to the shepherds. The sheep do not seem
to mind him at all, but the shepherds jump to their feet and I can hear their
frightened voices.
I listen to the angel’s message to
them.
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For
unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall
find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Great joy, Bethlehem ,
a savior born. Excitement tingles in me at the words. A savior. The savior the
world has been waiting for since the fall? The promised one? It must be. I wish
I could see.
Suddenly, more angels fly by me,
congregating with the one who told me to shine. Hundreds of them. Thousands.
More than I can try to number. They begin to sing and the sound shames that of
my fellow stars.
I sparkle, and we all add our voices
to it, praising our Creator for all we have been witnessing.
“Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, good will toward men.”
The shepherds scramble, bundling
their things together and abandoning their sheep as they start for Bethlehem .
I examine the fluffy white creatures. They look happy too, as if they understand
what is happening. I do not think they will wander away.
Activity pulls my attention from
them to the east. The men who watch the stars are crowding together, pointing
excitedly. Pointing at me. I wonder if they know why I am shining so bright
tonight. I can see them examining the charts, and the other stars around me.
They should not mind me. I am shining for the savior. The one who has come to
redeem men and set us free from the curse.
After awhile, they leave their
lookout and I see someone run out to get some camels saddled. Then all goes
still there. When I look back to Bethlehem ,
the shepherds have made it to the stable and I see the couple standing in the
doorway. The woman looks different now, and she is holding a small bundle.
The shepherds crowd around and I
strain to see. The bundle turns slightly and I glimpse a face. The tiny,
wrinkled face of an infant. But I know him.
My center self warms and I pulse
with energy. I know him. He was the one who brought all things into creation.
He was there when I was named and numbered. His is the savior. The Son of God
in heaven.
Now the
name given to me makes sense. Bachir. Chosen.
Joy overwhelms me and I shine with
all my might, joining my voice with all nature to welcome Him.
(All Bible verses from the King
James Version. Psalm 19:1, Luke 2: 10-12, 14.)
No comments:
Post a Comment