“Then God took Abram outside and said,
‘Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can!
As many as that, you will have for descendants.’”
– Genesis 15:5, The Inclusive Bible
Abraham never stopped asking, What am I here for?
He asked –
even when it meant another step along a dusty way,
even on the edge of desert times,
even when he laughed, and grieved, and lied,
even in old age,
even when the promise seemed bigger than reality.
What am I here for?
I like to think the night stars were a comfort for Abraham,
that every fear-filled day
was folded into night with a sky-full of stars.
And looking up,
Abraham would know himself speechless,
spinning in the womb of Divine space.
And “What am I here for?” would lose the hard edge of ego
and then, his softened heart
would fill with the shape of blessing,
traced in stardust.
Where in the world do you sense awe and possibility arising?
Take a moment tonight to gaze at the stars or the night sky. Create a “sky sketch.” With a soft pencil or dark pen, make a simple scatter of dots on a page to represent the night sky. Let your hand move slowly, as if placing each star with affection. You might add one word beside a star that feels like a guiding shimmer for you right now.
Whisper your questions or hopes to God. Notice what rises in you.
What a great way to start my January with pondering these questions as the stars at this time of year are bright and the days are getting a bit longer. Blessings.
What Am I here for? I think I know the answer these days – and I often don’t feel up to the challenge – but in the glory of the stars, I have a sense of being part of something so much greater and a reassurance that I am part of this great universe and all will unfold as it needs to.
Betty
I’m new to this Prayer Bench. My usual prayer space is in a forest in Ottawa – and in all the forests in my memory and imagination. This reflection reminded me of the moment when God called me, in the dark pine forest at summer camp, and stars that filled the night when we were out on the point, where we listened to morning devotions in the dining hall. Abraham was a “friend of God.” I am still friends with some of my camp companions… and my labyrinth pilgrims. Yesterday 2 new members joined our planning circle- what a joy to be part of a growing community! My guiding star has a rainbow coloured spiral radiating out from it. I look forward to this journey with all of you (as we used to do canoe trips at summer camp…)
Welcome! I love trees too. And love this camp story too.
Oh, the “glory of the stars” — even the wild stars we don’t expect …
And day-lengthening blessings to you too, Barbara.
Yes the majesty of the night sky Filled with stars generates a feeling of Humility and safety in me. I am so small. Almost invisible . I can just be.
This is a profound question for me in life at this moment! What am I here for? Finding myself in a year of transition and possibly…as vast as the stars in the night sky.
I am prayerfully creating a vision board and with each word and visual I rearrange and reassemble I’m affectionately imagining them as stars in the infinite night sky. I too like Abraham find myself “spinning in the womb of Divine space” and whispering my hopes and dreams to to Holy. Thank you
Cloudy tonight. Yet I know the stars are still there.
That is the message I need… the stars are still there, and will be…
Companions leading me into Wonder.
The stars are still there! Thank you.
I JUST read the January prompt because I had missed it earlier in the month. I have always loved the night skies for my earliest memories as a young child. When the night sky allows, I love to gaze up at it. Amidst all of the turmoil in the world right now, I find great comfort in the night skies. They are another source of awe and wonder for me. I am so grateful for the gift of working eyes to SEE them!
Well I got caught up in the busyness of the new year, new projects, new adventures. So I’m late in jumping in to this study. I’ll start my readings and slow things down to an enjoyable pace. I’m looking forward to new encounters with The Presence and how I can grow my relationship with God through reading the Bible. It’s exciting to start a new study
We have all the time we need!