Luke 2:15-20
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Christmas seems like a time where everyone is always in a hurry. We anticipate its arrival with impatience. There is much to do to prepare and seemingly not enough time.  And then suddenly it is all over. For those shepherds in a lonely field outside of town, a visit from some angels caused them to go with haste to see what was going on. Can you imagine them, still shell-shocked from what they just witnessed, racing into town like kids running for the tree on Christmas morning? Can you see those diligent shepherds abandoning their sheep and scouring every barn for the manger that held a baby? Can you picture the awe and wonder they must have experienced at finding exactly that and considering what it meant for them, what it meant for everyone?

I wonder if we are willing to leave behind some obligations, some duties, some things that seem so important and just go with haste to Jesus—to see Him and to know Him, to worship and praise Him. Now we don’t run to a baby in a manger, but we go to our risen Lord who has conquered sin and death and all that afflicts us here. We go to the Lamb slain who gives us redemption and new life. We go to our Savior, our healer and helper, one who leads us and guides us as our Shepherd. The excitement and wonder of that first Christmas still exist because of all that came to pass after this moment. So may we keep Jesus at the center and rejoice in all that He has done for us.