Bright Star

"Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home."

― G.K. Chesterton

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Dear Kate,

"Back to normal," we say, the way how we used to celebrate Christmas, the way how we wanted it, manufactured it, wished it to be.

The way how it would always fall short of the glory of our vision.  Even as we were far from being visionary.

This Christmas all the stars are aligned to take us back to how it all started, why there was a Christmas at all.

A voice is heard in Ramah,

    weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children

    and refusing to be comforted,

    because they are no more.

Because they are no more.  What are "no more" for us, this season?

"Back to normal," is this all we want?  As if the world is still lorded over by petty despots, bloodthirsty for the innocents.  As if we couldn't wait to join them to thirst after the same.  As if the one true King is not in town to set things right, by losing it all for us.

This winter solstice Jupiter and Saturn will align to appear as "a single ultra-bright light in a rare event known as the 'Christmas Star,'" a "cosmic coincidence said to have not been seen since medieval times."

Coincidence maybe, but not an irony.  It's a paradox.

The sky has always been dark.

Yours, Alex