I'm a Ben Franklin guy.
"Early to bed and early to rise gives the man a chance for an afternoon nap."
Or something like that.
The nighttime sky was clear, for the most part. More stars than clouds.
The Big Storm had yet to arrive.
Standing outside turned into a brief encounter, the siren call of the Chair and the woodburner tugging me inside.
That and I was in t-shirt, short, and no shoes.
Hey, I knew it would be a brief encounter.
Sitting by the woodburner, I slowly began to feel my toes again, (Oh yeah-I'm a genius.). I made the loop from the fire to the kitchen and back to the fire, now armed with a glass of water. Settling into the Chair, I promptly fell asleep.
Now this morning I'm brewing the Elixir and plugging in the Christmas lights. I start to think about last night.
Wide open sky versus the Chair and the fire.
Then I think of the shepherds on that first Christmas. They were the first to know something special was going on.
Well, other than Mary and Joseph.
And the donkey.
Shepherds are the Eastern version of Cowboys. Wide open sky type of people. Somewhat wild and unruly. Can't really see 'em breaking up a saloon but I bet they had some kinda reputation. Maybe at bar mitzvahs.
They weren't that concerned with social standing, protocol, and the big bucks. They preferred the wide open sky.
Can't you just hear 'em out there on the hillsides?
"Whoopi-ti-yi-ohvey,
getta long little woolies."
And that's why they saw the Angel Choir and were the first to know. Their venue of choice allowed room for a multitude of the Heavenly Host.
There were a lot of homes and rooms that night in Bethlehem. Even the Stable was full.
Nice little rooms. Sturdy walls protecting everything, nicely placed and arranged. Safe. Rooms where there wasn't room for an angel quartet, let alone a choir.
No room for a mighty work of God.
The Elixir's first swig begs to ask the Question and I don't want to let it.
Because.
Because when you're the only one around, you're the who has to answer the Question.
"Will I stay safe in my little, controlled room of a world or will I walk out into the wide open sky and see what incredible thing God is doing?"
Nuts.
I asked the Question.
Why do I do that?
The first thought to cross my mind causes me to smile. Then frowning, I wonder if I have the guts and determination to see it through.
Well, if I do, some things are gonna hafta change. Like wearing a coat. And shoes.
And learning to yodel like Roy and Dale. In a kosher kind of way.
"Whoopee-ti-yi-ohvey,
getta long little woolies."