My Life and Times: shepherds of Golan Heights

Once I was the Santa clause of our Christmas Carol. They tried Santa's dress on a lot of people; but it was fit only for me. Unfortunate! They tied one brass pot on my belly. After wearing the costumes, I was not knowing "what to do".

When we were visiting the houses, I was giving some handshakes first and as the carol began, I started jumping here and there. After such a 'jumping' show, we were going to the next home; it was a little far and wanted to cross a paddy field. While crossing someone fell down to the field of mud. In that dark night, Nobody knew who was fallen in the field..

Later they heard a feeble cry.... Ayyooooooooo Njanaaneeeeeeeeee Santa clause!

Dear JY,

Shepherds of Golan Heights

There was a lantern drooped in front of their shelters. It was the only decoration for their homes. But Shelters were old and top was roofed with dry palm leaves. Since they were residing for a short time at a place, wall of the huts was built of wispy logs of wood. . Behind their shelters, there was a beautiful and vast area of green pastures. There, they provided haven to their herds with bamboo sticks. It was nothing but a fence. Beside there was a small stream which was flowing towards east of the Golan and afterwards merged with an unknown river. They had been staying at the valley for last six months by the presence of this stream. Their children had given a name to the stream,'Rohi¹'Stream..That year either wooden planks or thick dry leaves were not enough to protect them from nature's joke. Snow and the cold winds were awful than the last years. So they used to come together in front of fire in the nights, which was set near to the sheep's manger. There, shepherds shared their deep hurts with the Esther, the eldest shepherd woman.

"When the children cried of hunger, she called them near to her and told "One day, this will change"...

When the youths showed anger about the society for considering them as outcasts, she comforted them, "One day, this will change"...

When the young women sorrowed with the hardships, she used to tell, "One day, this will change"

Esther looked up to the blue skies and lamented herself, "When will you allow me to serve the infant prince and sing a lullaby?"

They comforted her "Hey, Mother Esther, One day, this will happen"

On one flesh piercing winter night, Children gathered in front of the fire with Mother Esther. But the Shepherds were not reached to their hut with the herds yet. But the cries of sheep could hear near to them. After a while Young women came near to the fire with the dried bread and hot milk. Esther who wore a thick black cloth of fur shared her belief for the first time with the hamlet. She in her low shivering voice "Many Holy books prophesied about a King who will born for the salvation of the Earth. He will redeem us from evil. He will change us from outcasts to acceptable". Children asked "Mother, When....." She put a long silence....and told "We will be the first caste who will know about His birth and it is through an Angel.On that day, our shepherds will see wise men from the east; they will be looking at the skies for the direction... Shepherds who came back from the hills joined with them, their women shared the dried bread and milk with them. While eating they told her "Mamma, while coming back, we have seen Three men from the east .They were walking behind one travelling star"...Young women amazed and uttered her.. "This is that night!!"...She pushed her rod to the ground and stood...They heard a light and beautiful melody from the skies... "Gloryto God in the highest ...".One small child pointing towards the sky and told "Mamma, silver wings..." All else happened is History. Read Luke, 2:8-14