Thy Perfect Light

“O star of wonder, star of light,

star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding,

guide us to thy perfect light.”

We are in the middle of that strange week – the last week of the year. That odd bit of time sandwiched in between Christmas and New Year’s. Many of us have celebrated with meals, worship services, presents, maybe a few “Christmases” where we gather with one side of the family and then the next. We are full, maybe a little “hungover” from the surge of delight, excitement and expectancy that leads up to the holidays and Christmas.

What now? We might say.

For the first time in a longtime, I’ve cherished the simplicity of this holiday season. It seems the light of advent has gotten through to me in a purer and more radiant way than in years past. The years when I was going from one preparation of to-dos to the next, trying to partake in every “Christmas” activity, the star of wonder was actually less bright. The sky was clouded, or perhaps I forgot to look up.

This year, I saw the star.

I’m struck in a new way by some specific words contained in the familiar hymn We Three Kings:

• A new WONDER has emerged this year, a way of seeing things differently

• The Divine Source of all has been LEADING us within ourselves so we might go out and shine the light of Christ in a brighter way

• Both collectively and individually we are still PROCEEDING to the manger. God is still asking us to trust that when we arrive at the stable, the baby will be there. This is a process, a journey.

• GUIDE US. The Lord of all will show us. This encourages me to continue in spiritual practice, to lay down my heavy travel gear and remember that God will continue to show me, show us where to go.

Then, I’m drawn to thy perfect light. Ah. But, alas, without the darkness, the wisemen, the magi, the three kings, all of us, could not see the star so clearly.

I wonder about this time? This pandemic. I don’t believe God causes darkness, but I do believe he allows us to experience it. And, then promises He is Emmanuel – He is with us.

As we round out 2020, it is safe to say most of us are ready to just go ahead and call it a day. I’m encouraging myself to stay a little longer in the night. To look around some, to really notice all that the star is illuminating.

Royal beauty bright abounds in the manger, and if we look close enough, we can see the same bright beauty all around us.

Where do you see this beauty?

May we have eyes to see and ears to ear all that God has for us. Amen.