Go Tell It on the Mountain

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Refrain
    Go tell it on the mountain,
    over the hills and ev'rywhere;
    go tell it on the mountain
    that Jesus Christ is born!

1    While shepherds kept their watching
    o'er silent flocks by night,
    behold, throughout the heavens
    there shone a holy light.  Refrain 

2    The shepherds feared and trembled
    when, lo, above the earth
    rang out the angel chorus
    that hailed our Savior's birth.  Refrain

3    Down in a lonely manger
    the humble Christ was born;
    and God sent us salvation
    that blessed Christmas morn.  Refrain

Text: African American spiritual, refrain; John W. Work Jr., 1872-1925, stanzas, alt.
I wonder what the shepherds thought as they were peacefully watching their flock silently on a starry filled night and then BOOM!  A bright light appears telling them to go and not just go quietly but spread the news that Christ is born.
They feared and trembled, but who wouldn’t with a disturbance like that.  It’s like being sound asleep and someone shines a bright light in your face – get up, get ready, GO!  Quite a shock to a peaceful night.
Fearful or not, they went and they saw the humble Christ in a lowly manger. What a peaceful ending to the tumultuous days before.
I don’t know if I could have been so brave.  Traveling into unknown terrain, over mountains and down into valleys. When I think of mountains, they seem unsurmountable.  Huge and intimidating masses that seem impossible to reach the top.  Maybe it is because I just haven’t tried hard enough. 
I have fears and one is stepping outside of my comfort zone. Perhaps I am not ready yet to shout it from the mountaintops, but I can work harder at sharing the good news with others at sea level.
“Pray also for me.  Pray that whenever I speak, the rights words will be given to me.  Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news.” Ephesians 6:19