Night Time Interuptions

950 words.

It started like any other a night. The stars above and the comforting sound of our shepherd (Judas by name) snoring made it feel perfect and very normal. Anyways, I was munching on grass, minding my own business, when a gorgeous white fluffy walked through my field of vision.

“Keep your big ugly eyes to yourself!” a big brown curly sheep named Zach ordered me.

“If I was a lion you’d be DEAD.” I told him with great emphasis on DEAD. At that moment, I would have given all my wool to have claws or fangs or well, anyways, never mind.

Glancing over at Judas, I noticed that his snoring had grown louder. Any moment now, one of the neighboring shepherds would notice and the teasing would begin.

Suddenly, a great towering figure outlined in white and a wearing shimmering gold robe hovered above the rocky hilltop. With a start, Judas jumped to his feet as a bright light from heaven shown down illuminating the darkness and driving the shadows away.
"Do not be afraid, for behold,” the angels voices trembled with energy and excitement, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

Stunned, I looked around for Judas unsure of what to do next. Around us the other shepherds were just staring at the angel, their mouths opened wide like the entrance to a cave.

The entire sky was suddenly filled with a multitude of shouting angels, all of them radiating the brilliance of the sun at midday. Surely their voices could be heard all the way to Jerusalem!

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Around me the other sheep listened for a moment, but soon went back to eating (or bullying the other sheep in the case of Zach). The hillside was plunged back into darkness. Up above, the stars were bright and one in particular seemed to pulsate and bathe the entire countryside in its soft light.

The gorgeous white fluffy walked by and I turned to watch. Zach shoved me, hard, and I stumbled and went down. Getting back to my feet, the blood was pumping but before I could respond a shepherd’s staff caught me around the neck. This was bad.

“Issac, Zach… follow me!” Judas ordered, “Those who stay this night can watch the other sheep… I’m going into town. I want to check out the inns stable.”

Running after him, both Zach and I struggled to keep up with his pace as we made our way to the main streets of Bethlehem. Miserable place, the inn at Bethlehem was dirty and dark and due to the census the crowds were making it even worse then normal. By this time of night, the streets should have been empty, but they were not. Crowding close to Judas so as not loose him, we made our way to the inns stable.

“I’m not impressed” Zach muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.

A crowd had gathered, but the couple inside the cave did not seem to care. Wise men, dressed in traveler’s robes, were laying a treasure of gold, incense, and myrrh at the feet of a woman who looked like she was not even paying attention. All eyes were on the baby lying in a manager.

Judas pushed Zach towards the baby, and then me. Bleating softly, I was suddenly frightened. I looked at the baby. Peace flooded my heart. Whatever this baby represented to the men around us, to me it meant peace.

“Isaac”, Zach muttered to me, “Sorry.” That was a miracle; Zach never apologized for his bullying ways.

No one noticed us. Their eyes were filled with something greater, more important to them. It was a night like no other had ever been, nor ever would be again. Not that sheep are known for grasping the cosmic importance of things. But hey, it’s not a common occurrence in a sheep’s lifetime to be directed to new born baby by a multitude of angels.

Somebody bumped me from behind. Turning around it was her. The gorgeous white fluffy had followed us all the way from the hill top. As if by some magical unspoken agreement she moved closer to me, and I to her. Side by side we settled down to watch the events of this incredible night unfold.

“Judas!” the voice of someone calling my owner startled me, “You need to get back to your sheep. Your whole batch is headed to the temple and they don’t want a scratch on them.”

That was distressing news. The idea of being a sacrifice was not appealing to me.

“I’m leaving these three.. this couple can have them. Angels spoke to me tonight!” Judas’s enthusiasm was unusual as the man spent more of his life asleep then awake.

The stranger continued to argue with Judas, but soon their voices faded away into the background. And peace returned.

“I think we just got saved from being a temple sacrifice” I muttered to Zach.

“I know it. What do you think, that I’m stupid or something?” Zach mumbled back in reply.

“What happens next?” I asked.

“Only God knows.” Zach paused in mid-bleat, “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Leave it to me to try to get direction from a bully like Zach. The hours passed slowly, until finally dawn pierced the sky and put an end to the night.