Shepherds Running: A Christmas Poem
Angels shining,
Shepherds running,
With a message, too good to be true,
For me and for you,
A Child, born King and Savior,
The Mysterious One revealed,
The God of Heaven no longer concealed,
The eternal and infinite,
Now a mortal, an infant,
Baby Jesus, both crying and serene,
In the arms of Mary, a nobody from nowhere teen,
Immanuel, God with us dwelling,
Promised by prophets, foretelling,
For centuries the faithful waiting,
Occupying armies like locusts plaguing,
Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece,
Egypt, Syria, and the “Roman Peace,”
Darkness surrounding,
Silence confounding.
Runaway, castaway, lost at sea,
God’s people enslaved, longing to be free.
Enter angels shining,
Shepherds running,
With a message, too good to be true,
For me and for you.
So, what is your reason,
For running this holiday season,
What are you running from, what’s your favorite escape,
Why are you running at all, how do your struggles take shape,
What’s your purpose, your “why,” your ultimate meaning,
Is life more than Instragram posting and preening?
We need Christmas this time of year,
As we miss those no longer here,
Shopping and busyness and fear,
All of us longing to hear,
Of Angels shining,
Shepherds running,
With a message, too good to be true,
For me and for you,
The Story of God becoming one of us,
More than a vague notion to discuss,
Jesus left heaven’s hallowed halls,
To be born in a smelly stall,
He took on flesh and blood,
Unleashing an overwhelming flood,
Of grace and hope and love,
Peace on earth, goodwill to men from above,
Light of the world, shining bright,
Conquering darkness, on that first Christmas night.
Angels shining,
Shepherds running,
With a message, too good to be true,
For me and for you,
Announcing the birth,
Of infinite worth,
A gift of grace we could never afford,
God with us, our Savior and Lord.
Now, our candles let’s light,
And commemorate that night
May our hearts be your manger,
Delivered from darkness and danger,
Together in song, our voices one,
May our carols tonight reflect the light of your Son.
