The Promise's Beginning

Somewhere in midnight’s nocturnal hallways As the chill settles down with starlight While the world stands silent in waiting There abiding with his flock walks the shepherd Hopeful in thought and yet weary of foot He moves his charges through the bite of night His hope in the coming dawn lifts his burdens Filling his minds eye with warm musings of tomorrow In tones they beseech the day and challenge darkness But through this constant cycle of shine and shadow The guardian of the flock stands steadfast and waits The promise begins as His voice appears cherubically Falling in fear and praying for strength of faith The radiance in the sky softens ever slightly Speaking of the vow and announcing the messiah Who brings the world a love and a hope yet tasted Tremulous breath’s as the promise is spoken Awing the greatness with a loving and respectful fear Silent in belief beholding the coming miracle He stirs the somnolent flock down the slopes To bestow upon all the gift of this divine hour His breath brittle’s the final icy moments of dusk He labors the trail with renewed strength of heart Proclaiming hushed gratitude within every step A beacon of brilliance converges in the heavens Beckoning his faithful west toward little Bethlehem Dropping to his knees his face wetted in thanks Finally understanding what is gripping his soul He sees the precarious pathway laid before him Though he has journeyed into the unknown before None had brought with it a promise so precious