SEEKING Joy in the Good News (Shepherds: a natural response to the Gift)

My brother was in Nashville this week on business and invited me to join him. It's always great to spend time with my brother. Not only is he a friend, but his job is executive coaching. As a cheap Scotsman, I love getting free coaching tips to help me become a better leader. He also had tickets to the Grand Ole Opry. As a cheap Scotsman, I love getting free tickets to stuff. (Do you see a pattern here?) I've never been to the Grand Ole Opry. Now I have. I was awed at being in such an iconic place. I was amazed by the talent and the quality of the presentation. I found myself taking pictures and texting family and friends about the experience. It was exciting...and I couldn't stop talking about it. I imagine that this might've been like what the Shepherds in the book of Luke experienced when the birth of Jesus was announced (not that the Angels are like performers at Opryland). Multiply it by ten and likely more with the experience of such a celestial event. The point I want to make is about the response of the Shepherds. People who were among the lowest in society--who had no rights in the court of law--couldn't contain themselves. Their immediate response to experiencing God was TO GO. I often wonder if I know God well enough yet to realize that He's all that I need? I'm not sure I've ever allowed myself to experience His Presence in a way that motivates me TO GO--to go and tell others--to share the experience of wonder and hope that is for all people. I wonder. I hope you'll join us this week...to wonder alongside us...as we look at the Shepherd's experience at Christmas.