a clear sky and a parka

a One of my favorite things about living in the country is the amount of stars one can see on a clear night. I love to stand in the middle of my dirt driveway on a warm summer night, and stare. When late fall arrives I look forward to the meteor showers. The next one is Monday night, Tuesday morning – Dec. 13-14. I am hoping for good viewing weather! That…along with a good parka….

When we first moved out to the country from the suburbs, we were amazed at the darkness. Having lived for years with the artificial lights of the cities shining in through our windows, we had forgotten what it was like to have no light. The nights without a moon are the darkest. At first you can see nothing…literally. Then, as your eyes adjust you can make out shadows. This year I put little flashing lights on our dogs so that we could find them on the nights that are so dark.

Darkness is intense. It feels as if you can not see your hand in front of your face. Some of us have gone, or are going through our own darkness. St. John of the Cross calls times such as these “the dark night of the soul.” It feels uncertain, frightening…as if we desperately want someone to turn on the light for us. Except, sometimes they don’t turn the light on. At least not as quickly as we would like them turned on. We may have a wandering child, a poor diagnosis, a divided relationship. Many things can feel like dark places. Some place where we feel alone, even if we are in a room with many people.

You know, there are a few reasons why I like the stars on those bright lights. I use the stars to know where I am. I can be in another location and know by looking at the stars which way I am pointing. I know that if I line myself up with the North Star, I am facing the same direction as my house. I know that if I see Orion at a certain time of the year that I can face the way of our creek. This, in some manner brings me comfort. The stars help me navigate.

When things are light and clear, it is easier to navigate our way. However when it is dark, how can we see ourselves to the next place we need to go? In the Christian scriptures, we can read of a story of a starlit journey of the Magi.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

What is your divine North Star? What is it that you can find, even in the dark that will help you navigate through this or your next dark time? Perhaps it is in a faith ritual such as prayer, reading or a relationship. Maybe it is music or friend with whom to share what is on your heart. How is it that your soul is nurtured and sustained? I encourage you to consider your North Star…and follow it to it’s destination. And in the meanwhile, check out the shooting stars tonight.