“Is that it?” our daughter Kathryn asked, pointing toward the southwestern sky. Lib and I turned and looked as I pulled out my binoculars (fortunately I’d thought to bring them).
“Yep, that’s it,” I said. “Good eyes, Kathryn!”
Kathryn, Lib, and I were standing on the top level of a parking deck near our home. We’d gone there December 21, 2020, to watch for the “Christmas Star,” the interesting alignment of Jupiter and Saturn that many believe was the phenomenon the magi followed to find Jesus.
It was quite amazing to stand there and see the star (OK, the aligned planets) with the naked eye. Looking through the binoculars was even better. Like you, I was amazed at the photographs some were able to capture to reveal the details of this event.
Then I started thinking about the One who hung those planets in their orbits, who keeps them in their perfect alignment. I sometimes wonder if God feels the joy of a child spinning a top as He hurls galaxies around and keeps them moving. When I slow down—or when I am out on the Appalachian Trail—and view the stars with no light pollution, I become stunned as I “consider the heavens.” I am humbled to think that God cares about me. Me. And you. And everyone you hold dear.
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”