REFLECTIONS
January 1, 2006
 
 
the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Matthew 2:9
 
 
The Rainbow’s End
Part five in the series Preparing for Christmas
 
 Today is the first day of a new year. Last year is over, its story told. But not this one. Today we begin with a clean slate. Tradition suggests that resolutions are in order—commitments for how we will live the coming year. We make resolutions to lose weight, eat healthier foods, exercise more, be a better husband and father or wife and mother. But along with those resolutions we also have our dreams—aspirations we want to pursue, and gains we hope to achieve. It is the pursuit of those dreams that leads us down the paths that we hope will take us to the rainbow’s end we are chasing.
This year I have some dreams—pictures in my mind of how I want life to be for me, my family, and for others around me. Because I believe they can become reality, these dreams are my vision for the future. The choices I make, all of them, will be founded on achieving the vision I have. It seems that all I must do is to keep my eyes on my feet, watchful that they remain true to the path I set for my self. But no matter how carefully I follow that path, I have discovered that my vision may not lead where God wants to take me. 
The Magi must have made the same discovery as they chose to follow the star shining before them. Surely they had a vision of life for themselves, their families, and others around them. They must have had other choices for the use of their time, other destinations they might seek, other parties to receive their gifts. But the Magi chose to let go of their own vision and follow the star that God had placed before them. The star led them to the Christ Child.
As this new year begins, I pray for wisdom to let go of my vision and follow the star that God has placed before me. I pray for strength to keep my eyes on the star, not on my feet. I pray for faith that God will make my steps true to the rainbow’s end—
And Christ will be there.
 
“You are the light of the world,”
Richard Ì


Click here for Printer Friendly Version