THE STAR FOLLOWER'S CREED
by Dr. Edward Chinn
"WHEN I WALK IN DARKNESS..."
The darkness stands for life's many shadowed experiences. For example, there is the darkness of ignorance, disappointment, failure, depression, guilt, grief, sickness, and death.
"I WILL NOT FORGET THE STARS...."
First and foremost for the Christian, there is the LORD JESUS, who called himself
The bright star of dawn. As we answer "Yes" to his invitation, "Follow Me," we are
Star Followers!
Then, there are those persons - FRIENDS AND TEACHERS - who are part of the Communion of Saints, persons who have been like stars in our lives because of their guiding influence. They are bright lights in the dark nights!
"The Healing of the world is in its nameless saints!
Each separate star seems nothing, but a myriad scattered stars
break up the night and make it beautiful."
Third, God has called US to be "stars.' He wants to heal us of our "original sin". The letters of the word "sin" tell the story! The S stands for the Sense of Inadequacy. The I stands for Insecurity. The N stands for the Nagging Anxiety we feel because of the dizzying gift of freedom. Out of the fact of this state of "original sin" flow the act of particular "sins"-acts of thought, word, and deed. Christ wants to heal our Sense of inadequacy, Insecurity, and Nagging anxiety. He wants to raise our sense of self-worth, for He says to us, "You are the light of the world." And His Apostle Paul wrote: "You must shine... like stars lighting up the sky" (Philippians 2:15).
Finally, our own PERSONAL GOALS and our hopes are like stars, beckoning us onward. In dark moments, the remembrance of those stars encourage us to keep on going forward!
"NOR WILL I ONLY GAZE IDLY AT THEM....".
We distinguish "star gazing" from star following. "Star gazing" involves the contemplation of grand ideas, hopes, and sentiments, but those high ideals are never translated into concrete, practical, measurable, actions that can be accomplished. Genuine star following requires sacrifice - with determination, dedication, and discipline.
"I WILL KEEP ON FOLLOWING MY STAR ...."
Star following requires persistence. We are to continue Christ's faithful followers to our life's end. We must not allow temporary setbacks to become permanent defeats. When we sin, we repent, accept God's forgiveness, forgive ourselves, get up, and keep going forward.
"UNTIL IT COMES TO STAND OVER THE REALIZATION OF MY GOD GIVEN DREAM."
God has planted a beautiful dream in every human heart. That dream is our yearning for completion and fulfillment. The dream is the desire for that state of wholeness, well-being, personal and social harmony which is signified by the Hebrew word Shalom.
By following our particular "stars," we can experience particular moments when that God-given dream is realized. However, that realization is always partial and imperfect in this world. Only God can completely fulfill the dream He has planted in us. As St. Augustine said: "O God, our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee."
© Edward Chinn 1976
