The Shepherds - Day 22 - a holiday haiku
/Welcome to Day 22 of our Holiday Haiku Challenge One of the joys of the season is reading again the account of the very first Christmas. The star, the wisemen, the angel chorus, and the shepherds keeping watch. Here is a fresh translation:
An Event for Everyone (Luke 2:8-20, MSG)
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were amazed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
Today's challenge is to write one haiku, just 17 syllables, inspired by those lowly characters,
the shepherds
The Shepherds
by Gayl Wright In Luke 2 we read that the night Christ was born some shepherds were staying in the fields nearby, "in the neighborhood", watching their sheep. Imagine their surprise when an angel suddenly appeared and then a whole host of angels praising God! The shepherds didn't waste any time getting to Bethlehem to find Jesus. Everything was just as the angel had told them. Bursting with the news they began telling others what the angel had told them about the Child. Scripture tells us that all who heard were amazed. As the shepherds made their way back to the fields they glorified and praised God. They were in awe of everything they had seen and heard. It's a familiar story but seemed to come alive as I took time reading and pondering it.
Today's guest, Gayl Wright, has been one of the most faithful haiku participants in the series. If you start at the beginning and work your way through all 21 days thus far, you'll find her daily offerings in the comments section of each day's post. While they're all wonderful, I especially love the words she recently included on her own blog. It's a longer poem, however, each stanza is made out of haiku. It's entitled Make Room for Jesus.
Gayl Wright makes her home in upstate South Carolina. She is a seeker of truth who looks for beauty in ordinary things. A self-taught poet, photographer and artist, she loves to capture what she finds using her talents to encourage others and glorify God.
