I had heard the news reports and been waiting all day. I had seen the graphics and listened to the description of what was to be a historic event. I knew that appointed time it was to happen looked forward to it all day. When the time arrived I made my way outside and looked into the sky, with great expectation. I thought I spotted it, but wasn't quite sure. So I went back and looked at the reports to be sure I was looking in the right place, I even pulled out a digital sky map to be sure i was looking in the right place. But what I was searching for was not to be seen. So, my son and I decided to walk up the street to see if we could spot this elusive thing that everyone was talking about. And we did. Finally, in between two trees and just above the power lines there it was. The 2020 Christmas Star. The astronomical event of the year, that had not occurred in the evening sky in 800 years and would not again for many years to come.
As I looked into the night sky, and gazed upon this wonder, I expected to feel a great sense of peace and joy, a sense of hope. But all I felt was disappointment. This Christmas Star, the convergence of two planets in the sky just looked like two stars close to each other. Bright stars to be sure, beautiful stars. But nothing spectacular. Mars was particularly bright and beautiful this evening.
As I thought about my disappointment in the star I thought of the Men for the East who followed a bright start to find the child Jesus. It does not seem so. They presented him with gifts, they worshiped him. No mention of any feelings of concern or disappointment when they found not a child of royal birth, but a child of humble means. Maybe because they were simply looking for a baby and whatever state or means they found him in was ok with them. They trusted the signs they had seen and followed to guide them to the right child.
Then I thought about how many people reacted to Jesus himself, when he started his ministry. He wasn't quite what people were looking for in a messiah. Some wanted a warrior king to defeat the government. Some wanted a religious king who would enforce and follow all the laws that they had created to make sure people were "holy". Some wanted a Santa king who would just give them all they wanted whenever they asked. And many were disappointed in what they found when they encountered him. He wasn't what they were expecting.
But some, when they found him, regardless of what they may have expected, found a savior. I warrior king who fought their inner demons and brought peace to their souls. A righteous king who fulfilled and gave meaning to the laws written in Gods word and made sense of them, and taught them how to be truly holy. A generous king who freely gave of himself with his time, his love and his gifts of healing, acceptance, and forgiveness. They did not go away disappointed. For they knew they had found the true messiah.
I think sometimes I look at God and Jesus this way. I put my own expectations on Him, and when he does not do what I think is needed I get disappointed, or even angry. I forget that while he can and does bless me in this physical world, that his true desire is to change my from the inside. To do the work in my heart and soul that I simply can not do. To grow up the fruit of the spirit in my so I can use it as I interact with others and hopefully point them to him as well.
The next day, I started to see pictures from microscopes of the great conjunction in the sky, and oh they were amazing. The colors of the planets, the clarity of the moons around Jupiter and the rings around Saturn. And the breathtaking moment when they aligned and looked just like that Christmas star I was expecting to see, but would not with the naked eye. It too the proper lens to see them in their true magnificence and glory. And I think it is similar with God. I need to look at him through the proper lens. The lens of His word, and see Him in all his beauty and glory.
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