On Being A Star

I don’t remember where I found this nor do I know who wrote it.

But the words helped me the first Christmas after my son died and I offer it in the hope they might help someone else.

On Being A Star

There are                                                

hundreds of stars 

New ones                                                

each day                                                   

and all of them                                       

lead to                                                     

the manger   

We begin                                                

small and                                                

helpless                                                   

like a                                                        

little piece                                               

of clay                                                     

but we grow 

The potter                                               

works at                                                 

the wheel      

The potter                                               

wants us to                                              

become stars        

We become stars                                     

by following stars   

In the eyes                                              

of those                                                    

who cannot see                                       

you are a fool                                           

to follow                                                   

any star

But for those                                                 

with                                                         

Christmas-eyes                                        

you are wise

The potter works                                       

at the wheel

The potter too                                          

is a star                                                    

But we aren’t

used to stars                                      

like that

We aren’t used                                   

to stars who                                        

are born                                             

in a stable                               

and hung                                           

on a cross

We aren’t used                                  

to stars                                            

who proposed                                    

things that                                        

don’t make sense                               

like                                                  

losing your life                         

and turning                                      

the other cheek                                 

and being poor                                  

for the sake                                    

of some kingdom                             

out there

I hope a star                                  

comes out                                       

for  you                                          

on Christmas Day

A new one                                     

and one                                  

you’ve never                                  

seen before

I hope it’s bright                             

and kind

And shines down

hard                                           

and long                                     

and well

To help you see                           

the things                                   

you’ve never seen before             

Allow yourself

to see

and you are

shaped

moulded

poured into

a Christmas-form

It takes

a long time

longer than

any season

Being born

is not easy

but it’s good

Bless me

occasionally

with your birth

It heals the

scared in me.

Vision upon

  vision

and of  His

fullness

we have all

received

Why else       

did He come

except

to be a star                             

a gift  

except

to heal

the scared

in us

To light our path

To help you see

the things

you really

need to see

I hope

it touches

you with

gentleness

and runs

along

beside you

all year long

Oh, how I hope

it comes

Running

Leaping

Laughing

Bounding

Shining

in your life

And when

the year

is through

Well, just because

it’s you

I hope

this star

keeps

shining on

 in you.

Because you see

 you are

someone

I’d like to give

a star.

*

If you need more inspiration, you’ll find it in No Vacancy (A Christmas Story) at Bowalley Road.