A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

God made the {constellations} Pleiades and Orion. He turns deep darkness into dawn. He turns day into night. He calls for water from the sea to pour it over the face of the earth. His name is the Lord. Amos 5:8

He made {the constellations} Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the clusters of stars in the south. Job 9:9

It was a beautiful evening for a walk. The sky was crystal clear. There was a winter nip in the air that brushed my cheeks as I walked bare-faced in the cold night air. With very few lights to distract from the evening sky, I could clearly see the astronomical constellations on display over my head. I paused for a few moments awestruck by the vastness of the evening sky. I searched the sky for the familiar images of the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor which respectively contain the familiar Big and Little Dipper star clusters.

Although not as big as it’s nearby cousin, the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper contains Polaris, the North Star, the brightest in the formation. Residing roughly over the North Pole, Polaris became a reliable navigational tool for slaves, fleeing the south for freedom in Canada. Although uneducated, from the time they were very little, slave children learned how to navigate north by the stars. The Big Dipper, being a circumpolar constellation, remains above the horizon and visible all night long as it rotates around Polaris. In fact it is possible to tell the approximate time of night by observing the position of the Big Dipper. Therefore, Polaris served as a good navigational tool and it could be used to tell time as well.

Not being an astronomer, this about covers my knowledge of the constellations. I too, like the young slave children, grew up familiar with the Big and Little Dippers. The Dippers became constant companions in this journey called life, and I could always depend on their presence in the evening sky.

Things change, times change, our situations change, we grow older, but it is comforting to know that some things never change. Those two constellations stand as a constant reminder to me of the steadfastness of God’s creation. No matter how cloudy a day seems, no matter how confusing a situation may appear, no matter how lost I may find myself, Polaris will still be north, and the Big and Little Dippers will still be flying in the night sky whether visible or not.

Granted there are times when the evening sky will not be clear like it was this evening, but those stars are still there. I may not be able to see them, yet I know, from experience, their presence is a constant in the evening sky. Although I may not be able to see God either, I still know, as well from experience, His constant abiding presence.

¹The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

4 Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalms 19:1-4

Navigators

know the importance of the stars in guiding ships through darkened seas. Slaves yearning for freedom relied upon the evening sky to point them North. Philosophers and poets, historians and sages, have written about the stars. Folklore and mythology have told stories using the stars. The stars themselves can be used as guides to yet other stars. For me, they just remind me of the constant companionship of Christ and His Holy Spirit. For me the constant of the North Star points me to the center of my life, Jesus Christ. They remind me that no matter how many times the earth may spin on it’s axis, no matter how grey and stormy the skies, these guides remain unchanged and undaunted by the events on earth.

Job knew it, Amos knew it, and I know it, the creator of the heavens is in complete control and His love for me is as steadfast as Polaris. God’s love for me is as unmoving and unchanging as the starry sky. His love for me never ceases. Even if the stars fall from the sky, and time is no more, God will still remain faithful, His love will never fade away.

Take time some evening to look up towards the heavens and when you see Polaris shining brightly in the evening sky, thank God for His faithfulness. Let the stars be your guide.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}

Along for the journey

A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky

The Stars

Isaac Asimov’s Library of the Universe and Planetarium Platinum

Bushnell Voyager Sky Tour 70mm Reflector Telescope

Prophecies Encoded in the Heavens

Constellation Myths

Journeys to the Edge of Creation Set

Whispers of Angels – A Story of the Underground Railroad

Follow The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad

Race to Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad