Follow The Star
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider how travelers have used the stars as a sure and steady compass for thousands of years.
There is strength
In the current
It moves with ever patient
Hope
Bringing together
Small silly stones
Who think their creation Is complete
The waters dare us
To go
Find the places that
Call us to
Wholeness
Join hands with whoever Is next to us
And breathe life together.
- Sarah Klatt Dickerson, excerpt from “Peace Like a River”
Peace is a journey of a thousand miles, and it must be taken one step at a time.
- Lyndon B. Johnson
Matthew 2:9-10
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Food for Thought
When you think of “peace”, what comes to mind? Harmony with others, peace and quiet, or a sort of internal serenity? No matter which way you think about it, obtaining peace can be a struggle. Harmony with others – from squabbles between roommates to war between countries, achieving peace can require years of compromise. Quiet – in an overpopulated world of automotives and technology, best of luck to you here. Internal serenity – right...
Peace can seem like such a lofty goal because it is! Think of those individuals that we associate with peace – Gandhi, Dr. King, Jesus, other spiritual leaders of our time – peace seems to require an ultimate dependence on something greater. There is wisdom required to obtain peace.
The Bible tells us of wise ones who traveled in from the east to find the Christ child. For most of my life when I’ve thought of these wise ones, I’ve pictured them as reverent, stoic individuals – tired from a faithful journey. And, being specifically labeled “wise”, there is a level of peace that I associate with them as well. But I wonder, at any point along their way, did they struggle with maintaining peace amongst each other or within themselves? You travel with someone long enough, at least one argument is bound to ensue!
Did they ever wonder whether their journey was foolish – had one of them, perhaps, misinterpreted the meaning of the star or picked the wrong star to follow? When they finally made it to Jesus, did their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh seem sufficient, or did they suddenly feel insecure or inadequate about what they’d brought to offer?
After receiving their divine warning not to return to Herod, what was that like? Surely that would have caused all kinds of internal or interpersonal turmoil. Had they all received the same warning, or had just one of them received it and then had to convince the others to defy a king?! And then, when Herod tragically retaliated – killing countless innocents – did the wise ones feel guilty? Perhaps they could have altered the course of events had they not gone to him in the first place.
How do you maintain peace when all around you and within you there is chaos?
At the tender age of 35, I decided to learn how to wakeboard. One of the hardest parts for me (once I managed to get up on my board) was staying up! I would see the oncoming waves, tense up, and inevitably fall. After repeating this pattern a few times, it occurred to me that what I couldn’t see couldn’t psych me out. So, instead of focusing my attention on the water in front of me, I lifted my gaze to the boat to which I was secured. The next time I got up on my board, I kept my eyes on the boat that was pulling me along a sure, steady path. With my eyes on the boat, I could more easily relax my body, allowing the board to move with the water.
Perhaps, the wise ones were able to find peace by doing the same. Instead of focusing on the turmoil around them, they kept a steady focus on the star that was pulling them – step by step, mile by mile, wave by wave. Their faith and trust in God was enough to keep them going in moments racked with doubt, insecurity, or guilt; their dependence on something greater allowed them to look beyond themselves and all that came with their journey. Perhaps, that’s an essential part of finding peace.
Despite all that may be going on around and within us – gatherings, to-do lists, discord, excitement, stress, exhaustion – how can we better embody peace during this season? How can we remain focused on something greater, something steady, something sure – a way of being that beckons us toward a renewed focus on what matters most and a renewed sense of peace along the journey?
If we can do this, who knows how far and wide the ripple effect of peace could reach.
In this season of Advent, may you find ways to look beyond the chaos so that you might encounter moments of peace within your own life and in the world around you.
The hustle and bustle of the season can often distract us from the greater peace the season is meant to bring – a peace that Jesus was born to bring. Pass that peace along to others with even the smallest of gestures – write a kind note, spend time with a friend or neighbor, give a needed hug, etc.
This holiday season, be present with your loved ones and friends. Create a space that offers a little more grace, love, and true welcome to all who join your table. If you need a few ideas, here are Five Things to Remember When Setting a Welcome Table for the Holidays.
This printable version of today's reflection, “Follow The Star”, is for you to use in whatever way is helpful for you in your journey!
Blessing
God of Peace –
when peace can be hard to find,
when it is easy to focus on the turmoil surrounding us,
when doubt, insecurities, and fear seem to overtake our thoughts,
help us to be encouraged and to encourage others,
to keep a steady focus on your love –
a love that offers peace beyond our understanding.
A little Table Talk for your table...
Take turns sharing your ideas about what peace looks like to you.
Has there been a time when current circumstances seemed to be all-consuming? Were you able to find peace in those moments? If so, share what helped you during that time.
How can we be encouraged, or encourage others, to “be peace” in the world around us?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Ask your kiddos to describe what peace looks like.
Have them draw a picture of peace, and allow them to use their imagination. Sometimes their creativity can inform how we think about the concept of peace.
Share some ways that we can pass peace along to others in the world. Write down the ideas you share and post them somewhere they can be seen as a daily reminder.
Meet Our Welcoming Voice!
The Welcome Table Team - We are “The Bunce Girls!” Originally from Lexington, North Carolina, we were raised surrounded by music, justice, and faith. We spent most of our Sunday afternoons gathered around an open table with family and friends where the food was plentiful, stories and laughter connected our hearts, and where the presence of each individual was held sacred. It’s those moments that have inspired The Welcome Table.
To hear more from the TWT Team throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
Here are Five Things to Remember When Setting Your Own Welcome Table!