Wednesday, December 17, 2014

All on a Starry Night

“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.” Matthew 2:9-10

On my Christmas tree hangs a miniature galaxy of 1500 white lights twinkling beneath a luminous capiz shell star that this year replaced the angel which has always floated atop my tree. It’s a fitting transition since stars have captivated me as long as I can remember. Often while growing up, I would sit outside at night and gaze upward at the glittering lights. On chilly December nights, I searched for the northern star and strained to see if I could determine which light shone in the east at Jesus’ birth. A couple of weeks ago, we had an unusual cold snap and I wandered into my backyard to stare at the innumerable flickering stars strewn across a black velvet canvas. For weeks before that night, one of my Mom’s Christmas stories kept popping into my mind. For years, God gave Mom Christmas and Easter stories to share at church and one year, He gave her the story of Twink. After Mom died, Dad and I looked for written or typed copies of Mom’s stories but never found any. So, drawing from my memory to the best of my ability, here’s Twink's story.

“Twink” by Jean Lovvorn

Long ago, way out in space there lived a little unassuming star named Twink. Year after year he watched as other stars did important jobs and shared with each other stories of their exotic travels. Listening to the other stars, Twink began to feel unimportant, like his life had no purpose. One day he started crying and as he did, in the cold, still air of space, the tears began to freeze around him. Each day the layers of ice grew thicker and thicker as Twink continued to cry. He drifted farther and farther away from the other stars until he was all alone in a forgotten corner of the universe. Cold and lonely, Twink began to despair. Then one day, he saw a blinding light and heard a gentle voice.

“Twink, I haven’t forgotten you.”

“Really, Lord?” Twink’s voice shook from the cold and the tears.

“Really.” Twink could hear God’s smile in his voice even if He couldn’t see Him. “I have a really special job for you.”

“You do?” Twink felt his heart warm and wondered if maybe God’s love could thaw the ice around his frozen heart.

“We’re going on a really long trip and I need you to follow me.”

“Where are we going?” Doubt and fear crept into Twink’s voice.

“Do you trust Me?”

“Ye-yes, lord,” Twink stammered.

“Good, then let’s go.”

Long days and nights, Twink and God traveled together and for a while, Twink couldn’t see much below himself because of the layers of ice. So he followed God’s voice and stopped and rested when and where He told him to. As they soared past comets and planets and sparkling galaxies, Twink poured out his grief to God. As they journeyed together, the ice around Twink finally began to melt and his light grew brighter and brighter. When he could see clearly, he looked down and spotted a huge group of people following them. They were dressed in fine clothes and rode camels and seemed to be on a very important trip.

“God, I think they’re following us.” Twink looked at the people apprehensively.

God chuckled loudly. “They are, son, but that’s what they’re supposed to do.” The next night God announced, “We’re here.”

“We are?” Twink looked down into a dusty village outside a big city where he was hovering over a humble, rough-hewn home.

“Yes, Twink. You’ve just led all those people to My Son and the world will never be the same because of your obedience.”

Twink’s eyes filled with tears of joy this time as he looked down into the eyes of a baby who smiled up at him, reaching out his tiny hand as though to touch him. The baby smiled and cooed and Twink beamed with such joy that his light lit up the night sky as the travelers bowed in awe before the Son of God.