A New Star

Ah, Christmas music on a Monday morning, what a great way to start the work week. Okay, your people have this legend. A scrap of a story passed down through centuries. This event is heralded by a new star appearing in the sky. Yes, we must suspend for a bit things like living in a town or city where the profusion of lights blocks our view of the stars for the most part. For this story, somehow believe that we are not too busy and have some idea what the sky overhead looks like at night. A new star appears, and you and some friends decide to go see this thing that has finally arrived. However, you don't exactly know where to go. The star gives a general direction, but that's it. No GPS coordinates, no map with an 'X', just a direction.

The gang arrives in the land of this legend. You have traveled for about 2 years to get here, but where is here and what 'here' are we to find once we have gotten to here from back there? You do what does not come naturally to men, or what must come naturally to women since they complain about the lack of it in men, and ask directions. The question does what men fear and puts the ruling city of this land in an uproar. You hope it is in celebration of the event, but it's hard to tell what with the language barrier and all. See what stopping to ask for directions can do?

Anyway, the wise guys around the throne point to some scripture in the holy books that gives a town name. Great, now other than "over thataway", where in this town do we find this newborn king? Behold, the star returns once we have cleared the city lights, and it doesn't just sit up there in a direction, but goes ahead of us, guiding the beat-up and road-worn cars of the caravan to the town, and then right to the very house where this newborn king is growing up. Mission accomplished!

We recognize in my tale the story of the wise men and their travel in the Bible. As with many things, the Bible is rather understated in the telling of an epic journey and the heavenly guidance received. The Bible doesn't directly say "they left home in faith", but we get it from the few verses we read in the Christmas story. The magi had a direction and a legend, but it was enough to start up a long trip to see this new thing. They didn't know what sort of reception might await them in Judea, or what reaction their question might provoke. Perhaps they expected a king on a throne with scepter and crown, but instead found a toddler running around the house, perhaps chasing chickens or the family cat. A journey of perhaps two years to find a child and his mother in a house in Bethlehem. Seems almost disappointing, doesn't it? Not really though, a new star said there was something special about this child.

Merry Christmas!
Bucky