For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

In an age of ever increasing complexity, is it not a tremendous blessing to simplify?  From time to time, we're given opportunity in our lives to (metaphorically speaking) "clear the field" (for planting or building), or "de-clutter the house" (for aesthetic's or safety's sake!), or "get back to basics" (for attaining wisdom or accomplishing a goal)-in a word, to simplify.  As beings "created in the image of God" and charged with "dominion...over every living thing" (see Genesis 1:26-28 for these "basics"), it's essential for us to be and to do what God originally intended for us. 

...they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.   (Matthew 2:9b-10) 

Midway through our series of Advent dramas, we encountered a heartwarming scene of a young man, Wes, with his grandfather, Oscar, enjoying a favorite pastime together (watching the Packers on television).   But as Wes observed, "Oscar wasn't as into the game as he used to be.  Every play seemed to be punctuated by stories about Arlys."  The light and longing in Oscar's face as he told these stories presented to Wes a glimmer of hope in the promises of God through the dimly lit places of his own life.  Matthew recounts the story left by the three wise men-astrologers who longed for signs in the heavens some glimmer of hope to believe in, some peculiar star to guide them, a nightlight for others to live by.  For Wes, the stars of the Big Dipper shed just enough light for him to find his way through the dark; and perhaps it was that Big Dipper's "pointer stars" pointing to Polaris (the north star) that guided him home-a star peculiar in that it stands relatively motionless (stopped as it were) against the revolving celestial sphere.

"To YOU is born this day..." 

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.   (Luke 2:9-11) 

"In Luke's Christmas story the angel announces that God is about to fulfill the promise to be a living redeeming God by entering into the depths of human life, by becoming one with us and for us in Jesus Christ.  But the shepherds were not ready to receive the radical newness of God's promise until they were first told, 'Do not be afraid.'"  (from Faithful and Courageous: Christians In Unsettling Times by Bishop Mark Hanson, p. 16)  I've found myself drawing upon this little book by our presiding bishop rather frequently as the volatilities of worldwide recession, wartime violence and climate change combine with my particular concerns for future wellbeing at church, home and workplace. 

"Then all the people..." 

O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.                                                                   
(1Chronicles 16:8 and Psalm 105:1) 

In the chronicled history of Israel, soon after David had been established king and he, in turn, established worship around the ark of God in Jerusalem, these "how-to" instructions are given:  "...give thanks...call on...make known..."  Think for a moment what these words might mean in the context of YOUR Sunday morning ritual ablutions:  "Thank God it's not Monday!  O Lord, my hair's a wreck!  Would anyone notice if I slept in?"  We quite congratulate ourselves at making it to church each Sunday morning, we ingratiate ourselves to our neighbors for enduring the same mediocre religiosity week after week, and relish the fine way we keep the Sabbath by indulging our private avocations.  Now re-imagine "Give thanks...call on...make known..."  Words of authentic, spiritual worship.  Can I hear an "Amen!"?