Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-01-02
THE SHEPHERDS RETURN
Luke 2:S-20.
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By W. C. AYE

By w. {. AYE
The scriptures are given to relating
the most striking incidents IN suen
simple language mat often the true
| significance Is hidden from all save
those who are spiritually minded.
No language could be more COM
monplace or void oil poetic embelllsn-
ment than that which describes the
! visit of the shepherds to the manager
| where Christ was born.
They heard the angel choir and
| followed, and their quest led them to
| Bethlehem. The short journey was
made seemingly under the spell of IN
enchantment; but they returned with
rejoicing, "glorltying and praising
God for all the things that they haa
heard and seen" Their attitude prior
to the Bethlehem journey may be
easily imagined. 1t was not unlike
any workman's attitude to his occu-
patton.
To the average Oriental the shep-
| herds life was one of dreary, monot-
onous watching. If we conclude from
the poetry of the bible that shep-
herds life is ideal we are guilty of a
common error. No occupation is ideal.
Green pastures, still waters and cen
| tented shepherds are iviting themes
70 contemplate, but the practical mind
will not believe that a shepherds life
| is more attractive than any other oc
cupation.
The average workman's life is a
daily grind, and often the grind hurts.
1t ruttles the temper and aggravates
impatience.
How many have been through the
grind and know the unpleasant ereak-
| ing of the wheel. The incessant click
of telegraph, the buzz and whir Of
machinery, and the routine of office
may afford pleasant diversion for
the onlooker, but none for operator
or clerk. He gets weary of the mon
otony of his daily task if he is not,
himself, machine.
Is it too much to conclude that the
shepherds like other men were human,
enduring the grind, but longing for
freedom? Did they not dream that
another occupation would have been
more adapted to their talents and
temperament? Did they not yearn 20
transfer their flocks from the Jordan
to the peaceful valleys of the Tigris
and Euphrates Did not the ripple
of Jordan become noise instead of
music? If such were not true they
were very unlike the rest of humanity.
Surely they longed for something they
did not have, another occupation. or
perhaps another environment. The
something came, as it may come to
anyone, In a way unexpected.
They were watching their hocks by
night when light shown about them;
the voice of an angel spake unto them:
Behold | bring you tidings of great
joy" and the angel choir began sing
ing: GLORY to God in the highest and
on earth peace and good will to men,"
Heavens anthem! No music may
ever transcend this. No wonder the
shepherds followed. When the work.
man of today hears angelic voices he
TOO Will leave his tools, scattered with
no regard whatever, and follow.
The shepherds quest led them to
the manger and there they saw the
Babe of Bethlehem, Christ the Lord.
The incident was of brief duration,
somewhat like a religious experience
which Is never forgotten. This phe-
nomenon accounts for their return
with rejoicing to the valley of Jordan.
Years afterward when the Babe be-
came man, strong men years his
senior, left their boats and nets at the
! seaside and followed Him. But the
shepherds returned rejoicing to their
flocks.
1t is for only a few, who are
specially chosen, to leave their nets
and crooks and follow Him. The
multitude returns to its old routine.
But did the Shepherds return to the
daily grind, the unbearable solitude,
and the noise of Jordan? No! Such
We're impossible. The daily grind be-
came the daily song, the hills rever-
berated with echoes and brought back
heavens answer, and the ripple Of
Jordan provided natures accompani-
ment.
No workman, be he shepherd of the
Orient, or employe in industry, factory
or office, may see the Christ and go
back to his occupation unchanged.
The whir of factory wheels, the
routine of office, the drag of plough
and reaper will become his delight and
all nature will respond in grand
harmony to the music of his soul.
If one wishes to retain the Christ
| mas shirt thrnuphout the veor Iet