Star Light, Star Bright

‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'

I remember as a child – star light, star bright! First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might get this wish, I wish tonight. At this time of year, I wonder what wish we’ll make on the first star we see tonight. Perhaps we’ll wish for that winning lottery ticket stuffed in our stocking from Sister Michelle. I wish that I might make it through the family meal without fighting with Uncle Fred about the current state of the world. Will we wish for plenty of chocolate candy, rich and tasty egg nog, lots of presents that we’ve been waiting for all year long? Will we wish for good health, safe travels, or a stress-free year?

A voice cries in the wilderness and the wish list is very different than the wish I’ve made on that first bright shining star. It’s a cry to comfort my people – can we wish for an opportunity to comfort God’s people? The voice that cries in the wilderness cries for justice and peace – can we stop punishing criminals after they served their term? Has not their penalty been paid? The voice that cries in the wilderness sees a different world than the one we are living in. Could we be so courageous as to stand with the voice – the one crying in the wilderness for justice rather than the hateful way we treat others who are different than ourselves?

The star over the Bethlehem stable shines on a homeless child, a refugee in foreign land. As I babble on, I wonder if children still wish upon the "first star" they see in the night. If the children still wish, I wonder if they'll wish upon the Christmas star – the one that makes straight in the desert a highway for the coming child. What will your wish be this Christmas morning?