Looking Up

December 11

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It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of Christmas and to miss the whole point. Even at the birth of Jesus and through His life, many who saw Him missed the message and the miracle. The shepherds knew. They watched the sky as they watched over their sheep. They saw the Star of Bethlehem and followed. The wise men knew something was up. They saw the Star and followed. But how many weren’t watching, or saw and still missed it?

Last week a Chicago Tribune headline read In their closest alignment in 800 years, Jupiter and Saturn will create a wonder: A Christmas Star.” Local and national news had similar stories about this spectacularly close alignment of the 2 planets, about to happen for the first time since the year 1226. It will be visible around twilight the week of December 21. Wow. Pretty exciting and I’ll be looking for it. A friend asked, “Will this be a beautiful signal that heralds the end of this (insert your own adjective) year?” Could be, but either way, as I look for this rare planetary show, I’ll be amazed by the universe as I always am when I slow down to look.

Sunrises. Sunsets. A clear night sky. They are all “beautiful signals” of the Creator. The One who sent His Son to earth for us. Will you take a moment this Christmas to be still and to know, to look and to see?

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Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his

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