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Ahead of us was yet another three hours' drive. It was getting rather late. Everything seemed to proceed as scheduled, when all of a sudden, inexplicably, the engine died out.
There we were, right in the middle of Australia's longest highway, darkness was falling and not a soul in sight.
At that moment, being so close to Christmas, I couldn't help recollecting the episode when the Magi lost sight of the star and found themselves in Jerusalem trying to get their bearings again and back on track for them to meet the Christ-Child.
The situation was so similar.
Notwithstanding how lovely the scenery appeared a few moments before, notwithstanding the excitement that the Magi must have felt upon drawing closer to their longed-for desire, nonetheless it was very scary to lose sight of that star....to get stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Our lives tend to feel just like this. As long as the going is nice and shiny, life is so beautiful. But once your're stuck and find yourself in darkness, then that's a totally different matter.
God gave us a beautiful world, graced with all that it takes to make our lives happy. All of creation right from His very hands. As a gift, freely given to you and me.
But that very instant that you lose sight of Christ, all the beauty disappears. Everything quite easily can quickly appear dark and cloudy. All is so very frightening. Joy disappears.
Take a close look at people today: sad, anxious, fearful, impatient, without joy, never satisfied, always confused.
Man is so lost and alone in this world.......without Christ.
It is the moment when panic takes hold. You must surely have experienced such a moment in your life. You feel miserable, lost. Beacuse in your life there isn't His light any more.
But once help comes along, and our motor gets started again, we are once more on our way. What a change. How fulfilling it is to enjoy the scenery once more. So too, the Magi must have felt when they got sight of the star to guide them on their way.
So many people live shattered lives.
So many feel their lives are utterly wasted.
For others, however, life is a beauty.....
How come ? Why the different outlook.......simply because some are stranded, whilst others are on their way.......
What a difference, and yet all it takes is to look and believe. Look and see, and you will behold the One who can guide you safely on your way.
Fr Elija Vella
Reflections
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