Following the Star 
Pause
Breathe. Take in some deep grounding breaths. Pull your shoulders back, feel the ground beneath you. Once you have settled, take one more deep breath saying or thinking:
INHALE: Holding on to joy doesn’t mean I am always happy.
EXHALE: It means I will not be overcome by despair.
Listen
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.” Soldiers asked, “What about us? What should we do?” He answered, “Don’t cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay.”
Luke 3:10-14
Think
This fall a hurricane literally swept through our mountain town. It ravaged thousands of trees and filled the rivers to devastating flooding, washing away homes, leaving so many with nothing and an entire area without clean water for almost two months. What followed this climate disaster was an outpouring of humanity. People were doing all they could to check on others, to figure out if everyone was safe, all while navigating their own trauma.
When people realized there were those who could not haul water to their homes, some went door to door to make sure everyone had their basic needs met. Free, hot meals were not hard to find. This was not about politics or class. We all needed help. What was not available locally started showing up by car, helicopter, and truck loads from all over the country. It was not perfect, but it definitely mirrored the directive we hear in our passage from Luke. The message can be boiled down to “if you have it and someone needs it, share.” In God’s economy there is enough for everyone.
Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks
Question to Ponder:
How can we all move closer to a way of being where we share with others whenever there is a need?
Pray
God of more than enough, I am sorry for the ways I hold on to so many things that others need. Help me to be mindful of what I have that can be shared. Give me wisdom to take steps to share all that I have without expecting anything in return. Remind me of the love you give me so freely. Thank you for loving me enough to send your son, Jesus. Amen.
Go
You are the God of justice
You are the God who sees
You are the God who heals and
Who loves the world through me
We believe our love can change things
We will not live silently
You are the God of justice
You are the God who sees
You oh Lord are with us
We will not be afraid
