Follow The Star

” Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

^” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. ¹And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2: 1-2 and 9-11

I have often thought about the Wise Men from the East, and the true meaning of following The Star to worship and seek The Lord.

It is easy for us to lose sight of The Star in such a dark world. Every time we turn on the news there is something to discourage us, and make us feel like The Star is lost for good.

That is why the faith of the weary traveler is the most beautiful, and it shines the brightest in the darkest skies.

You may often find yourself at a crossroads when you are seeking The Lord. You may be searching the sky for the North Star, and believe that Bethlehem is a million miles away. You may find that the search is too dangerous, and that the price to seek The Lord is far too much.

Let me share with you my story about how I became a wise seeker of The Star.

The Star

The star can come to you in many different ways, and it often takes one of the darkest moments in your life to notice it.

For me The Star came several times throughout my life. It came when I was a child and my innocent heart was yearning for a Heavenly Father to show me how to navigate a scary and cruel world.

My world as you know, was filled with some hardships from an early age, but it wasn’t my entire world. I didn’t sit in the darkness, and feel hopeless all the time. There were moments throughout my childhood that I saw that star.

The brightness of the star is something that fills you with joy, love, hope and peace that no one can explain. It is a brightness that the Holy Spirit thrusts upon you when you need it the most.

It is why that song “Breathe of Heaven” by Amy Grant has reached so many souls. It reached mine from a young age. It talks about the searching and fear of the unknown, but the simple joy of knowing that Jesus Christ the Savior is born.

It is why several Christmas Hymns were written many years ago, so that people could put into words the meaning of the star. It has guided people seeking to know The Lord for centuries.

The Star can be many things; a song, a person, a story, a verse, a kind act, and an actual star in the sky.

For me, it has been all these things and much much more. It has been a friendly smile from a stranger, a kind word from a friend, an embrace from a family member, and a song in my heart.

The Seeker

Once you have seen The Star it will keep appearing to you throughout your lifetime. It will come to you in the night, early rays of the day, or even in a kind word spoken from a stranger.

We often wonder as we see The Star in our darkest moments why it keeps showing itself. Why would the star go through all the trouble to help us find our way? Why does it seek us just as much as we seek it?

The Star is the sign that the Holy Spirit continues to guide us through all of our journeys. It refuses to give up its shine and will make us remember that child-like innocence that brings us closer to The Lord.

When I was in college I really felt The Star hit me where it counts. I was so lost at that point in my life that I didn’t think I could ever be found again.

I soon felt like a failure and that I should just give up. I have often felt this way, but it got worse when I was in college. I put a lot of expectation on my shoulders, and sometimes the weight was too much. The thing is that when you come from nothing you are constantly trying to be something. You are constantly pushing yourself to be better and do better despite the exhaustion and fear of failure.

I know I am not alone in any of this, but at the time I sure felt like I was. I think that is the whole point of depression. It locks you up in a dark room, and you can’t seem to get out until a small light bursts through.

So, it was in college that The Star really began to shine. I was sitting in the student study quad, and it was a very dark day. I had lost all hope for my future.

A woman I never saw before sat down next to me, and she began to tell me she was a missionary who had the privilege of going to other countries and helping those who needed it most.

She proceeded to tell me that it was my purpose to write the heart and soul of the world. I found that profound since this woman didn’t know I was a Journalism Major. She told me about how in the least likely places you will find the true meaning of God, and His love can be found in the darkest places.

I really took this as a sign that The Star was not done with me yet. A few weeks later I was really down again, and some of my teachers had made me feel hopeless. I really didn’t think I would amount to much in the world of journalism.

Again, as I sat in the student study quad the same woman sat down next to me. She told me that I would do amazing things for God. She told me that my stories would matter, and that they would touch many lives.

I took it as a sign that not only was I to keep seeking The Star, but I was also meant to be a writer. I was meant to write the heart and the soul of the world. It was in this way that my star would guide me to the place I needed to be.

Finding Faith

It is important that on the path to The Lord you don’t lose sight of The Star. You don’t want to get lost along the way.

Fear not my fellow wise and weary travelers since The Star never goes away for long. It will often appear to you when you need it most. When you are hanging by the edge of a cliff, submerged in a storm, or even in a dark room. It will always find a way to brighten the way and guide you to the Heavenly Father. For on that day so long ago, The Star sent wise men to worship and seek The Lord. Jesus Christ Our Savior was born to save the world from darkness. He is the brightest star you will ever need. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. Once you keep your eyes on Him the faith of the light will get you home. It will get you on the right path. Faith of the seeker is the most beautiful thing. Our Lord Almighty knows that as long as you stay on that journey you will find Him. You will always seek Him. You will always have obstacles in the path. Do not be discouraged by the darkness, because it is in that darkness that The Star shines brightest.

I have been a writer for a few years now in the professional sense, and a writer in my heart for most of my life. It comes from the deepest depths of my soul, and these words are how I will do my part in changing the world.

I still look for The Star to this day. I still look for those moments of pure bright light that make me feel like I am not forgotten. Although the darkness remains a battle I must fight often I know it can not win. I am a child of the Most High. I am a child of God. I know that even in my darkest trials I can always find my way home.