What we choose to fight is so tiny!
What fights us is so great!
If only we would let ourselves be dominated
as things do by some immense storm,
we would become strong too, and not need names.
The man watching, Rilke

Gaddi Taddeo, Announcment

Press PLAY to hear Stephen Wood reading from Rainer Maria Rilke's A man watching

The story continues...

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (Luke 2:8-10)

Reflection

The sudden splash of fear, as yet unaware that good news is pending. What awaits us may actually bring joy. For those of us who anticipate the worst, eyes flitting from side to side ever alert, here is a reminder to lift our heads and not fear. There is a bigger, brighter story. We are invited to re-imagine our futures/lives in light of good news; to think in new ways, to expect something large.

Think in ways you've never thought before.
If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message
Larger than anything you've ever heard,
Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.

When someone knocks on the door, think that he's about
To give you something large: tell you you're forgiven,
Or that it's not necessary to work all the time, or that it's
Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.

Robert Bly, Things to think

Action

The door bell rings. Jesus comes to the door? What are you offered? Forgiveness? Hope? What do you want? What do you really, really want?

Andrew Hook