At night, I’d slip out to the backyard of my family’s home to watch the night sky. Growing up in the country, I’d often see a lot of stars. In my youth, I didn’t know one from another. Yet, on those nights in the backyard, I felt a deep connection with something beyond me, a sense of wonder, and of deep peace.
Given that I started watching the night sky in my youth, it’s not a surprise that I kept vigil on the balcony of my home observing the Hale-Bopp comet in the spring of 1997. I remember spending many evenings transfixed by the light of the comet wondering who else in the universe enjoyed this traveling beacon.
Of course, I learned more about the stars and was able to observe their brilliance in the years I lived in Tucson, Arizona. The clarity of the desert sky and the city ordinances which limited ambient light meant that, much like my childhood, I could simply go to the backyard and look up. But it was at a Tucson observatory that I was overwhelmed with seeing the rings of Saturn in detail and was transfixed with the wonders of the night lights.
Today, we have a large telescope that we take to our backyard from time to time. However, we don’t get to see much of the night sky. Living in Atlanta, the combination of humidity, clouds, and ambient light makes stargazing a challenge. But there are some nights when it’s amazing to look through the telescope and enjoy the wonders of the sky.
There’s a draw to look out beyond the confines of our planet and wonder. I’ve spoken to many people who are much like me. When watching the stars on a clear and silent night, we have a sense of connection with something beyond us as well as a deep peace that grows within us. Based on my experience, it’s not a surprise to me that the Christian observance of Christmas ends with the story of the Epiphany. Traditionally celebrated by Western Christians on January 6, the Epiphany culminates the twelve days of Christmas with the story of the magi who follow a star and bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Over the centuries, many assumptions have been made about the magi. Tradition holds that there were three of them. In truth, we have no idea how many there were. Tradition conveys they were kings. They probably were not royalty. They were astrologers — and could have been both women and men. To be honest, there is no actual proof that they existed at all. All we can be sure of is that we have inherited a beautiful legend that continues to inspire people today. The legend coveys to us that astrologers came from the East, the direction of the sun, the place of wisdom and enlightenment; they brought gifts; and they followed a star.
Epiphany: the word is taken from Greek roots and means a revelation, an appearance,or a manifestation. Often when I have looked up at the night sky I anticipated the appearance of celestial light. The manifestation of special luminaries like comets or shooting stars was sometimes part of my field of vision. Other times, it was as though a blanket of stars was tossed across a bluish-black background. What strikes me most is the way that gazing on stars takes me out of my day-to-day preoccupations and self-absorptions and creates a new context for life. My troubles and worries seem so small when I consider the immensity of space. Yet, I am reminded that even though I am really not more than a speck of dust in the grandeur of the cosmos, I am truly blessed to be able to simply look up, to see, and to behold something of the amazing qualities and textures of the cosmos.
I suspect that the magi of old had similar experiences to mine as they looked up at the stars. But even more, they found a light which captivated them deeply and led them on a journey to encounter something of the reality of God’s presence born in the world.
I don’t much care about the facts about the legend of the Epiphany. The number of magi or what ancient empire was their home is insignificant to me. What matters to me most is embracing the sacred story which conveys that encountering the Divine is a magical and mystical journey, much like following a star in the night sky. The journey of the magi is a rich metaphor for understanding our encounters with the Divine throughout our lives.
Perhaps at home in Atlanta, the sky will be clear enough this year for me to look up and be thankful that following stars has brought me to the time and place in life to encounter the Holy One once again. But even if clouds or ambient light hide my view of the stars, I know that they are there … just as I’ve come to understand the presence of the Holy One is always there.
Photo by Csky65 on Visualhunt.com/CC-BY-NC-ND
