Starry Changes

It’s time to finish up our sun, moon, and stars segment of this Creation series! As we wrap up, I’ll share a few tidbits about a new season that’s upon us here at home.

Over the last two months, I’ve written thoughts based on the fourth day of Creation, which we read about in Genesis:

Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.

Genesis 1:14-19 NLT

Starry Signs

Unless we’re star gazers, we probably don’t even think about how many stars we can see change from one season to the next. It may seem that the stars are changing locations, but that’s simply the view from our perspective. They’re moving all right, but not the way it appears to us!

Our view of the night sky changes depending on the tilt of the earth’s axis and what side of the sun we happen to be on at any particular time of the year. In temperate climates, stars can indicate what season it is, and therefore when it’s time to plant what crops. Seasons change, and different seasons call for different activities.

Our Changing Season

Seasons are changing in the Hawley Home. God is calling us to serve long-distance hikers, but we are currently living along the coast and far from any long trails. In order to support hikers we have to drive three to four hours from our home, but it’s worth the time and energy to get there and back!

In a few months we will be moving to a home right on the Appalachian Trail, at the other end of the state. That means so much more time will be spent face-to-face fighting hiker hunger with good food and good conversation!

We will miss the community we love that we are moving away from, and at the same time we are excited to grow a new community in the years to come.

The Christmas Star

The Christmas season is upon us, and you may see stars everywhere! Why? They remind us of the first Christmas star that led the wise men to Jesus (see Matthew 2)! It was a sign they knew how to read. The wise men weren’t just born smart, but became wise through observation, study, and learning from others who went before.

Our Learning Season

Hubby and I have enrolled in the Master’s Program in Adventure Studies at Yellowstone Theological Institute, and will begin classes in January. This program is in line with what I usually blog about–encouraging folks in their journey of faith using examples from the natural world!

As we step out into serving hikers, we want to have a good foundation to speak from. We don’t know it all, but we have much to learn from others.

Shining Stars

Finally, what do stars do best? They shine! We may not see them during the daytime or in the wrong season, but they continue to do what they were created to do.

You and I have been called to shine, as well! We don’t shine to get attention for ourselves, but to point others to their Creator. We are to shine brightly in both what we do and how we do it, no matter where we are.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:14-16

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Philippians 2:14-15

I may not be writing as frequently here in the coming months as I have been lately, but know that life will be whirling at home! I’ll be decluttering, packing, painting, fixing up, studying, researching, writing papers, moving, unpacking, setting up, settling in, etc. etc. And in the middle of it all is Christmas! I may not be busy on my blog, but I will be busy!!

Please pray for our family, that we would continue to shine like stars as we enter a new season of learning and serving.