One star filled night; I looked in awe at the timeless majesty of the sky above. All was quiet, motionless and clear. Then something moved! It began as a distant blur and soon grew into a brilliant streak of light overhead. It raced across the sky and soon, there was only the fading light of the afterglow of a magnificent, spectacular and enchanting shooting star!
Many of the events in my life remind me of shooting stars. The events appear, explode into brilliance in the center of my life, and demand all of my attention for a time, then almost as quickly, fade into my past. As the events move slowly from the present and then off into the frozen sea of the past, they leave in their wake many memories, memories that gradually fade and seem to be forgotten.
But, every so often, when I meet in prayer with my friend, Jesus, He will gently remind me of those long ago struggles and victories. Often, as we walk and talk together, in my minds eye, He causes me to see those events as if they are spectacular, enlightening shooting stars flashing across my memory. Later, as we talk, He reminds me of other scenes, scenes that seem to again flash into focus in my mind until, I remember all of the colorful details; the great struggle, strife, worry and ultimately, through His love, the victory.
Now, as I recall the events in my past, I realize that all of those were experiences Jesus and I shared together. Whats more, I now know that they were all vitally important to my growth and maturity because of the way they helped to mold and shape my future. Today, I can understand that those were the times when I was learning how to: pray, cope, think and make right choices and build my faith in God. As a matter of fact, as look back, it is only natural that I cherish the companionship and fellowship I shared with my constant companion Jesus during those important events. He invariably was patient as He lovingly advised me. He always did His gentle best to help me grow and mature.
One thing Ive learned, and Id like to pass it along to you, is that through it all, anytime you and I find ourselves struggling with lifes problems, all we have to do is walk outside on a clear night and search the heavens. There, as we watch and pray, Jesus can easily cause us to be reminded of His love by simply showing us one or more of those memory jogging, spectacular shooting stars.
Terry Weber
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