There were shepherds living out in the fields. . .

Protecting their sheep from predators and thieves.

Mary and Joseph had returned to the hometown of Joseph's family as part of a national order. It turns out that Augustus the head cheese at the time had passed legislation mandating an updated census . . . for tax purposes (perhaps he had a recession that needed fixing too).

Joseph and Mary pull into town and for lack of vacancies had to shack up in the barn. A funny set of circumstances seeing as Joseph would have had a load of extended family in town. But, that's the way it was - they were shacked up in the barn.

These shepherds, in the meantime, were out in the elements. Maybe it was winter and cold, maybe it wasn't – either way, it seems to have been an ordinary night by sheep rancher standards. Imagine yourself there:

It's late, you're tired, and you and a couple of friends are telling stories or playing games together. One of your buddies is nodding off next to you. Suddenly. . .

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Mankind has always feared what it does not understand. There were no movies or fancy CGI to bring to life the wildest and scariest of our imaginations (outside of say. . .the Coliseum). People were not numb to terror as we are today.

I don't believe the messenger from heaven was scary, though. These shepherds were prepared for a lot. They were on their guard against lions, wolves, and bears, but angels suddenly appearing in the middle of their flock of sheep was not covered anywhere in the Idiots Guide to Shepherding.

Like turning around to find someone standing right behind you that you didn't know was there, and were sure wasn't there a second ago – that is how I quantify their terror. . . that and there is a freakin' ANGEL standing there.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

OK, first off. . . Mr. Glowing Angel guy scares you near to death, then he has the audacity to say, "Do not be afraid." I can only imagine that there had to be something divinely soothing about his voice and maybe also his presence that would allow the shepherds to pull their wits together enough to actually stop being afraid! But then after toning their fear level down a few notches to "prudently afraid", I can imagine the curiosity and wonder took over. Now someone who is not Jewish the angels message seems a bit well . . . preachy and weird. But for a Jew the Messiah ('Christ' in the Greek) was somebody long sought after. The Messiah is the guy who is going to make things right and restore Israel to its splendor. So for these shepherds to hear this must have been, well, indescribable.

Had some schmo in the market place told me he had found the Messiah, I might have laughed, but for 'Mr. Glowing Angel guy who just appeared out of now where in the middle of my flock of sheep' to come and say it, now there is something!

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Now, if one angel terrified me, a multitude (or company) would send me running for the hills. Growing up I remember hearing of and seeing images of whole mobs of angels lighting up the sky like a summer day and singing in booming voices. Yet, recently I heard a remake of a classic Christmas carol and in it there is a refrain sung by the "angels". It is neither loud, nor particularly booming. Instead it is gentle, melodious in a quiet way – it is so well done that it overpowered most of my senses. I was drawn into it. Then I thought about Elijah who found God in the gentle whisper. Even Jesus himself, the son of God makes his first appearance on Earth in a very quiet, non glamorous way.

I envision the choir of heaven out in the field with the shepherds singing in a quiet way so indescribably beautiful that it overwhelms all of the senses – in a peaceful, awe inspiring way. A low singing whose harmonics send the gentlest of ripples across the soul.

It was enough that the shepherds were able to collect their wits, walk off the job (I don't know, maybe they took the sheep with them – either way they left the field) and explore the validity of what they had been told about a family in a barn and a baby who would save the day.