Now we’re in the last full week of Advent and we’re approaching the winter solstice, I’m posting a few imaginative thoughts based on the story of Jesus’ birth. This week in 2025 holds dreadful news. New sadness and fear has entered the world. It’s into just such a world that some messengers speak.
This is a story of a young woman from a small village who was asked to do something great.
News and visitors are rare in our little town, hidden away in the Galilean Hills. Sometimes I complain about that, but I’m always told it’s for the best. Nobody takes much notice of us, so we can just get on with our lives. Still, I often wonder what’s over the horizon.
Roman soldiers are talked about but never seen round here. We’re not worth the effort of building their famous roads uphill to Nazareth. Sometimes I daydream about walking along the rough track that we call a road. Where will it lead?
My life plan was very straightforward and predictable, just like every other girl. I’m engaged to be married to a good man and I expected to live my life keeping house, cooking and cleaning, looking after our children and our parents until I can sit down with grandchildren on my knee. Well, that’s all changed since a surprise visitor arrived. As far as I know, he’s only been to see me.
It might have helped if he’d explained things to my parents first, but I doubt they’d have believed him. He told me he was an angel, a messenger direct from God. He told me I am very special and specially chosen by God to have his child, God’s child who will save us all. He listened when I told him it was impossible, but his eye twinkled when he reminded me this is God we’re talking about.
I know that God has promised wonderful things through the birth of a child, and of course everyone that’s ever done anything great started out in some woman’s womb, but this feels like more than that.
Of course it’s hard for any of us to take in. Suddenly it seems our hills can’t hide us or save us anymore, but I feel peaceful and strangely excited about it all.
My name’s Mary and I think I’m going to find out where our little track leads to.
Wandering Through The Land Of Nod. 