Encounter

hail

o favoured one
the Lord is with you

little more than a whisper

the voice was clear
and steady

do not be afraid

easy for him to say that

this radiant dazzling figure
who’d mysteriously appeared
out of nowhere

she began to tremble

felt her own
sharp intake of breath
before this strange figure
who’d rudely interrupted
her daydreaming

he had the shape and form

of a man
yet was
so very different
nebulous
shining
his features softened
by a shimmering glow
and he carried a presence
that emanated
an extraordinary peace

every nerve in her body

felt on edge
adrenalin
coursed through her
like a mighty waterfall
she felt in the presence
of something
terrifyingly beautiful
spell bindingly powerful
hugely frightening

and he said

simply
do not be afraid

absolutely nothing

could have prepared her
for what came next

you are to bear a son

one who will reign
over Israel
forever

he will be the Son

of the Most High

you are to call him

Jesus

her mind raced into overdrive

a heady cocktail of confusion, questions
arguments
random tumbling thoughts                                           

and then

after a split second
that felt longer than a lifetime

relief

it was all a mistake

this terrifying encounter
had to be a mistake
he had the wrong girl
it couldn’t possibly
be her
she’d never slept with a man

but he ignored her protests

carried on

the power of the Most High

will overshadow you
and make you pregnant

your baby will be holy

the Son of God

the power of the Most High?

a holy baby?

a million emotions

battled for attention within Mary
she wanted to run like the wind
from this conversation
pretend it never happened
get back to being ordinary

and then an echo of ancient scripture

voiced itself in her head

the virgin

will conceive a child                                                                            

and suddenly

this crazy scenario
all seemed impossibly possible

could it be true

that she was the chosen one

and though she didn’t begin to understand it

knew she could never deserve it
had no concept of the consequences
she wanted to laugh, cry, dance
all at once
wanted to tell everyone
about the angel

and she knew

there was only one response
she could make

she heard herself speaking

I am the servant of Adonai

let it be to me
as you have said

.