You Were Not There in Bethlehem

For years, the Shepherd boy's Forgotten Carol has been my favorite. I find something truly inspiring in the boy's humble testimony, "Yes, I did believe them, though I'd not seen a thing. I did not go to Bethlehem or hear the angels sing. But there was something magic in the air that made me feel as if I'd been there." And of course, there is the boy's stirring invitation, "Do you thing you'll join us, though you've not seen a thing? If you feel the spirit in the air, then just like me you'll know that He was here!"

This boy's story is so relatable to me because I am surrounded by many wonderful brothers and sisters of mine who share their testimonies of our elder brother and how they know of His truthfulness and His divinity. And without hard physical evidence or proof of the truthfulness of the Nativity story, I am compelled to trust and to yield to that magic and that spirit in the air that can help me feel as if I'd been there. I pray that you can feel that magic in the air this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

*******

The flock was more than peaceful; the night was dark and deep.

The stillness wrapped around me; I drifted off to sleep.

And when my friends awoke me; oh, what a tale they had to tell!

They said the angels told them about a newborn King.

They had a star to guide them; they heard the heavens sing.

They said that, when they found Him, they knew they'd never be the same.

Somehow I did believe them, though everything I knew

Said I should not believe them; this story can't be true!

But there was something magic in the air that made me feel as if I'd been there.

I asked a thousand questions; their answers startled me.

The more I heard, the more I thought I knew this could not be.

And then the struggle started, my head was wrestling with my heart.

Why would a God from Heaven come to the world this way?

Why in a lowly stable would the Messiah lay?

I shook my head and asked them to tell the story one more time.

And yes I did believe them, though I'd not seen a thing.

I did not go to Bethlehem or hear the angels sing.

But there was something magic in the air that made me feel as if I'd been there.

I knew that, as the world moves on through time,

There would be more stories just like mine

About the souls who've chosen to believe in something that they never got to see.

So do you think you'll join us, though you've not seen a thing?

You were not there in Bethlehem to hear the angels sing.

But, if you feel the spirit in the air, then just like me you'll know

That He was here, He was here,

The King of kings and Lord of lords was here!

He was here, he was here

And He will come again, for He was here!