Recently, a close friend and dear sister set out on her own path of faith.
Her path is one only she can see from the vantage point of her unique personal situation. It isn't a path all of us could understand, nor, I suspect, were meant to. The path is for her and her alone.
The Wise Men, or Magi, were learned men . . . men of knowledge of their generation and place. For centuries, since the time of Daniel, their order had watched for a sign in the sky. And finally, it was there. The Star of the Savior of mankind shone brightly. Imagining the joy they must have felt is impossible.
Far to the West, in the small hamlet of Bethlehem in the land of the Jews, a baby had been born to a virgin. He would be known by many names, but to these waiting, watching, and joyous Wise Men he was King, Savior, and Lord of all Mankind. They immediately began to prepare for their journey to the West to find and honor Him.
The Wise Men knew the path they were to take, but to those outside their order, their preparations must have seemed bizarre. To all the drivers, guards, and others who made up the caravan that brought the Magi and their gifts to the newborn King, this months-long journey probably made no sense at all.
Like the Wise Men from the Orient, my friend alone knows the meaning of the star guiding her. I will miss her a lot. But her star is guiding her on a different path than we had imagined a year ago. And I respect that. I have to let her go . . . just as a lot of us have to let people go.
Safe travels, my sister. Follow your star. You will always have my prayers, my love, and my unquestioning support.
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.”
Pray for those God leads on different paths.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Kevin Spencer likes to play with words, help others play with them, and is privileged to be a staff writer for Christian Devotions. He lives with his beautiful blessing of a wife, Charlotte, and his amazing collegiate grandson, Caleb.