On behalf of the 63d RD,
I saw a shooting star, better described as a meteor, last night. It was so close and slow that I watched it burn up in the atmosphere. It is apparently pieces of Hailey’s comet. I was up in the middle of the night, not able to sleep, sitting on my 4th floor balcony joined by my cat. It scared me at first because I thought it was a rocket, but then I realized it was a shooting star and then decided it was a meteor. It disappeared behind the building and I listened for any sound in case it hit the earth, but it was farther away than it seemed and burned up before reaching our surface.
My favorite stars in the sky, and ones I look for when viewing the night sky, are within Orion’s belt. This constellation has two of the ten brightest stars in the heavens. Two meteor showers are associated with Orion that peak out around the 21st of October. This was around the same time I saw my meteor in the sky, (Omega WordPress Theme by ThemeHall, 2020).
The Eve of the Christmas season is upon us and I am a lover of stars. I always looked for a star to display as part of my seasonal decorations. I have been looking for one for my 4th floor balcony. I guess my favorite part of the Christmas story is the star that leads the wise men to the house (not a stable) where Mary, Joseph, and their child, Jesus were now living.
Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
It is estimated that it could have taken the wise men on a two year pilgrimage, once the star appeared in the sky at the birth of Jesus in the stable behind the Inn, to travel and find the child, a prophesied ruler from texts and scriptures they had studied. Apparently, Joseph decided to stay in Bethlehem after Mary gave birth. Miraculously the star led them to the house where the family now resided. This was no ordinary star that burned out in minutes like the meteor I witnessed.
Matthew 2:9-11 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him.
Some put angels on the tops of their Christmas trees, but I put a star. If I could travel back in time I would have been one of those wise men following a star to a destination that only the star new. I wonder if they got discouraged months into the journey, or perhaps each night the star comforted and encouraged them to continue onwards towards the goal. I find the night sky full of infinite possibilities, and it envelops me in comfort. Some of my best memories in life have been outside, beneath a night sky that’s illuminated by millions of stars.
This season stop and look up at the night sky and allow the gifts that the stars can only give, give you comfort and maybe even insight on something you’ve been pondering or questioning for years. Allow the stillness in the heavens to make you mindful during this holiday season and fill your hearts with worship at the remembrance of a star that led some wise men to seek out and find their Messiah.
My prayer for today:
May this holiday season bring you closer to the ones that you love and especially closer to the ones that need love. May you all draw from what this year has gifted to you and give those gifts to others that are willing to receive them as a blessing. I pray you have a blessed and light filled celebration, and may the stars always shine brightly in the night sky as a reminder that life, even in darkness, can be lit with hope and direction, amen.
CH (MAJ) Dawn Siebold
Here is the direct email and phone number for anyone requesting support
From the 63d RD Chaplain office,
usarmy.usarc.63-rsc.list.chaplain-all-users@mail.mil
650-526-9668