This year marks the 21st year of the same “Harold” the Angel at South Main Baptist Church during the Journey to the Baby program.
Standing at over ten feet tall, he has mostly been stationed at the same general spot on the corner between the Chapel and the playground. In the early years, “Harold” would read from his scroll, proclaiming the good news. In recent years, you could hear him trumpet, “HARK!” followed by, “Don’t be afraid!” to passersby on their way to see the Baby. If you stood there long enough, you could hear him retell Luke chapter 2, verses 8-14, hear him sing all three verses of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Good King Wenceslas.
Sometimes you will see children stop in their tracks and look up for a few moments, then run off to experience the other offerings of the journey. Other times, you will see groups of people congregated in conversation pause for a bit and watch as he breaks off into song. At times, you will see people seated on the bench across from him, looking up and taking in his message.
In our family, “Harold” the Angel holds a special place in each of our hearts. Every year we take a family picture with “Harold.” There have been five children in our family who, after hearing the story of Clip-Clop the Donkey, have come outside and seen Harold for the first time. There is a moment where they had to process what they were seeing, smile with recognition, ask a few questions, and just stand there in awe; all the while “Harold” telling them not to be afraid. He is Dad, Granddaddy, Dave, Dr. Dave, but on this day, every year, he is “Harold,” sharing the good news.
While our “Harold” is known, we encounter many heralds throughout our lives. Just as “Harold” the Angel has become a familiar figure, a deliverer of the Christmas message, we can often overlook the everyday heralds God sends into our lives. These heralds might not stand ten feet tall or recite from scrolls, but they bring messages of hope, peace, and love in subtle, quiet ways. It could be a friend who offers a word of encouragement at just the right time, a stranger who shows unexpected kindness, or even a small child whose innocent question reminds us of what truly matters. These moments are no less divine simply because they are ordinary.
The shepherds in the Christmas story were ordinary people. They were not kings or scholars. They were humble workers who became the first to hear and share the good news of Christ’s birth. In the same way, we too are called to be heralds in our own lives. We may not have angels appearing to us in the fields, but we have countless opportunities to share God’s love and light with those around us.
This Advent, let our hearts be open to those “Harolds” in our lives, the small and seemingly insignificant moments when we can share God’s love. Just like the shepherds, who were ordinary people entrusted with the greatest news of all, we too are called to share that news and be that light through kind words, a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on, or just simply being present for someone in need. Let us not overlook the ordinary, for it is often there we find the extraordinary work of God.
