Hello Winston County (Journal), hey Webster County (progress) and yea to my old Choctaw County friends (cpd). How exciting to share with a few more readers! Happy new year! “It matters, doesn’t it, knowing that God knows—that to bloodshot eyes and hearts uprooted and afraid, God is no un-ruffled bystander? He knows. He’s been there…for no tear will find its slow way to the earth uncounted, no hurt or disappointment or rejection lies unvalued. Our tears are now the redeeming tears of God, our heartbeats speak a sacred language, our whispers sing with everlasting urgency.” (Stanzas from House of David, Sr Miriam Pollard, ocso, NEITHER BE AFRAID, Ignatius, 2000).
Today’s date has become synonymous with insurrection, coup, and even death. Hard to believe two years have passed. I have spent some time reflecting about the human condition that chooses a person, a plot, and a cover-up squarely before our eyes. I love good mystery and one of the reasons is that the ‘plot’ is not clear…it is slowly revealed…it twists and turns…then, boom...it explodes in our face. Had I guessed it? Did I know all along? Was it the character I guessed? Was it where I thought it happened? Ah, no…that’s part of the skill of the writer of course, but in this case the Jan6 plot was right in the open and all the players willing. Not much guessing needed, not much mystery. How did people know what to do? There was a ‘star’ at the center who showed the way. In this case, a person who wanted something he could not have.
Stars are a fav phenomenon of mine…Christmas Eve coming home from Mass the sky was absolutely clear, and the stars were out in an abundance. Not that I know all the constellations, though I’ve been learning, but just the sheer beauty…the twinkle…the hope that whatever is beyond them is good, and good for us. Sometimes I just stare at them and try to apply what I know. For example, that light I see twinkling is old, very old…coming at earth for many, many years…even dying on the way. Not new stars, not baby stars…but mature wrinklies like some of us! When astronomers and Astrophysicists begin talking in billions of years…or the speed at which the light actually moves, my head spins. I do not need to know all these and many more facts, but I do want to allow the great Creation to make some sense to me, a tiny human creature (of a certain age) on a rather puny planet, in one of many billions of galaxies. We used to think we were the center of the universe…perhaps we’re not and perhaps that ‘star’ I mentioned is not either.
“Stars should tell the time of night; the sun should rise at dawn. And every road that men have built is made for walking on. But where I go, the stars have died, the sunrise never comes. I cannot see the road on which my wounded feet must run. The dark can have a character, the eye, deprived of light, can fashion, out of starlessness, another kind of sight.”( Stanzas from ‘Where Are You going?”
Pollard. ibid)
For regular readers you know peace is an often topic of mine because it is the desire of the human heart…and there are so many aspects. Look at this:
PEACE IN ZULU: ukuthula; WELSH: heddwch; SPANISH: paz.
I have an extensive list so maybe they will feature in each article for a few weeks as Christians celebrate the Prince of Peace all over the world…and we notice just how different each language is. We are also celebrating that part of the Christian story where the Wise Ones arrive to meet the Child…about 2 years old by now and lay their gifts before Him. Following that star for years, looking for a new King of a faith none of them shared. What stars do you follow? Is there one or are there many? This year the Webb has released so many pics of amazing galaxies…and star nurseries, and stars crashing into black holes…oh my, how did those ancient searchers do it? Well, apparently, there was just the one they united around.
We are both stars and peace for one another as we try to establish the common good. As we walk together in this new year, let’s expand our horizons and see how our lives impact others for good or for ill. May peace and joy fill your new year!
BLESSINGS.
