Pumbaa: Hey Timon, ever wonder what those sparkly dots are up there? Timon: Pumbaa, I don’t wonder, I know. Pumbaa: Oh. What are they? Timon: They’re fireflies. Fireflies that, uh…got stuck up on that big, bluish-black thing. Pumbaa: Oh, gee. I always thought they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away. -The Lion King
THE WONDERING WANDERER
I could live my life neck deep in astrology if I let myself. But I don’t. Ever since I was a little girl I have been awestruck by the stars, and by anything related to astronomy. Also, like most people, the ins and outs of who I am and why I am the way I am has always fascinated me. Astrology blends the two– the study of the stars with the study of self. It has been satisfying the questions of the lost, the confused, and the wondering wanderer for over 2,00 years.
One of my most vivid childhood memories is from 1997, standing on the back deck of my house, gazing at the Hale-Bopp comet streaking like a diamond across an inky sky. Growing up, my dad would wake me up in the middle of the night to watch the Perseids meteor showers; he would explain the blood moon scientifically and biblically, and I still wear a glow-in-the dark t-shirt my uncle gave me with some constellations on it when I was seven, and I often wear a rocket ship necklace a friend gifted me after she attended space camp– I won't go into my very real, deep nine year old jealousy. And then in 2017, I cried with joy and jumped up and down like a child at the sight of the solar eclipse. (My heart goes out to anyone who did not experience that epic occurrence).
As I got older, I had two dreams. One was a secret. I wanted to be a professional singer and songwriter. But the idea of being a singer and songwriter seemed much, much more lofty than walking on the moon. So I kept that to myself.
The other dream, the tangible one, was that I wanted to work for NASA– to be an astronaut, a researcher or someone ANYONE at the control board– to fill my mind and days with the knowledge of those ‘balls of gas burning billions of miles away’, yes– that was what I born for.
But aspirations of working for NASA came to an unexpected halt my seventh grade year when I failed to understand… Algebra. I know I sound a bit dramatic but it was a tough pill to swallow. No one had to explain it to me, I knew that I needed to be quick with numbers if I wanted to work in that area of science but I was not and am not; I have the ACT scores to prove it. I had to take remedial math in college five days a week and still ended up with a D. ‘D for degree,’ they told me. I didn’t get that degree.
Anyway, still, my fascination with the cosmos has not ceased, though I’m a self-employed designer, illustrator, storyteller. The stars and galaxies have made their way into my poems and products, my stories and my songs. I cannot help but include them.
Last year, at the end of one of our world's most devastating seasons in history, God was revealing himself, and I was awestruck once again. It was on the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2020, I witnessed The Great Conjunction or what some like to call, “The Christmas Star.” This is when Jupiter and Saturn pass one another in the sky and shine bright and beautiful as one star and it hadn’t happened at night like this in almost 800 years. Some believe it is this very star the wise men followed to the baby Jesus!
I share all of this to communicate that I don’t fault anyone who looks at the stars to discover who they are and why they are the way they are. From ancient days, from the Babylonians, humans have looked to the constellations for guidance for their hearts and travels. But we don’t need to.
DECLARATION - CELEBRATION - ADORATION
Scripture tells us that “The heavens” (which includes the sky and the cosmos) “declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)
They point us to our Maker, revealing his power, his majesty, his wisdom, his everlastingness, and more. If the stars reveal anything about us, they reveal our finiteness. (Psalm 8:3-4) Now– because I believe that the Bible, God’s Holy Word, is inerrant– having no mistakes in it, I look to it to tell me who I am and why I am the way I am.
Scripture, not the stars, is the mirror to which we look in order to know and understand our origin. Around this time of year, Christmastime or Advent, I am most deeply reminded and convinced of this truth: that God uses the stars to declare his glory and that they can guide us.
But to what end?
When Jesus Christ was born, what did God use to declare it? His Heavenly Hosts and a Star of Wonder
God filled the skies with heavenly hosts, his singing angels– not one, not two, but an innumerable amount of them for declaration, celebration, and adoration. (Luke 2:13-14)
God also set a star in the sky for the wise men that were to find Jesus. These wise men followed the star to Bethlehem, to a family foretold. They followed the bright star to the one who formed that very star. They followed the star to worship the one for whom they had been waiting. They followed the star so that they could bring gifts and offerings to the one who would one day offer himself as punishment for the sins of the world. They gathered and adored the one whose life would begin and end with the anointing of myrrh. (Matthew 2:11 & John 19:39)
FROM LOST WANDERERS TO FOUND FRIENDS
So I’m not saying we shouldn't look to the stars, what I am saying is that looking to them for guidance, wisdom, and for a deeper knowledge of ourselves– well, that study will come up short. We will only be left with more questions. Anything that leads us deeper into the knowledge of self without the knowledge of Him first, will betray us.
And uniquely at Christmastime, those firefly-like balls of gas are meant to lead us to our Creator and ultimately to the gospel of peace. When we look at Libra, Virgo, and Leo we can remember that the one who set them in place gazed up at them from the earth, just like us– so that he might live a sinless life, be punished and die in our stead for our sins, so that we might be forgiven and no longer live as lost wanderers, but found friends of him who now wonder at his majesty and love.
Who are we that he was and is and will continue to be mindful of us?
May we declare his glory, celebrate his love, worship and adore him. Though we have no gold, no frankincense, or myrrh; though we have nothing to offer but sin and questions and humble hearts, let us we remember that Jesus Christ offers himself so that he might fill, lead, comfort, guide, rule, reign, and forgive as we long and wait for his return.
To end– here are the lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas songs, which is quite underrated! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!
We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star
Born a king on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign
Oh, star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect light
Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity night; prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies
-John Henry Hopkins Jr. (1820-1891)
>For more about The Great Conjunction you can go here. >To follow my designs, illustrations, products, and storytelling at @lisaclowstudio. >To follow my poems, lyrics, and music at @lisaclowmusic.
