Calvary Episcopal Church
Memphis, Tennessee
THE CHRONICLE
January 18, 2004
Vol. 49, No. 3

Be A Star
What star is this, with beams so bright,
More beauteous than the noonday light?
It shines to herald forth the King,
And Gentiles to his crib to bring.
(From The Hymnal 1982, "#124," ©1985 by The Church Pension Fund)

Who has not gone out of doors on a dark, clear night and looked overhead and seen sparkling lights hanging in the darkness and whispered deep, deep within, “Ah!”? Those lights that hang from heaven are the reminders that the darkness can never overcome the light; that no darkness can ever overcome us; that eternity stretches far beyond the bounds of our human understanding and our planet. As we continue looking upward, our necks begin to ache, and slowly it feels as if our very souls are being drawn upward, to the vast beyond, which is at once frighteningly unknown yet miraculously familiar.

Stars have no voice, no way to herald the news of God, but they have something
greater than words — they shine in darkness. And those who have eyes to see follow the light right into the presence of Jesus. Can you imagine how the world would be if more of us acted like stars pointing the way to God? If our spirits were so filled with light, that others could find their way to God simply by following our light? We could do it if we would feel the heat and light of God’s love in our own heart. If we would remember times in our own life when darkness seemed our only companion. If we would recall the moment in the midst of that darkness when we felt the light of God shining, however small, in the cavern of our own abyss, and knew that all hope was not lost - that there was a chance for new life - that we could reach out our tremulous fingers and the Light would grasp us and pull us out of the pit into the land of brightness. When we have known the terror of darkness and the reality of being pulled ourselves into God’s light, we can point others to that same light.

An ancient Rabbi – Rabbi Barukh - once asked his grandchild, “My son, do you
remember the difference between the two wicks – the wick of cotton and the wick of flax? One burns quietly and the other sputters. Believe me, son, a single true
gesture, even if it be only that of the small toe is enough.” So, in truth, being a light that points others to God is not so very difficult. For, even one true gesture that arises from following Jesus will be enough.

So, why not try being a star for the whole year of 2004? The way to begin is to
spend time reading, reflecting, and praying through the Gospels so that you learn
what it is to follow Jesus. Then, follow Jesus by offering the simplest true gestures,
doing them in the darkness and the light of God within you will grasp others from
their darkness and point them to the light of God.

Renee Miller+

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