Star of Wonder

by General Brian Peddle

Illustration : Brightside Creative/Lightstock.com When I consider the star that was a significant part of the Christmas story, I’m reminded that scientists view the stars in the sky very differently. They use light years to measure the distance of the stars from us on Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in one Earth year, so about 9.46 trillion kilometres.

The sun is our closest star and is some 150 million kilometres away. So, the sun’s light takes about eight minutes and 20 seconds to reach us, meaning we see the sun as it was more than eight minutes ago. The next closest star to us—Alpha Centauri—is some 4.3 light years away, so when we view this star today, we see it as it was 4.3 years ago. It’s as if we are looking back in time.

Beaming Bright This means that the Magi written about in Matthew 2:1-2 would have seen a star whose light was beaming before they could even see it. And yet, God used that star to lead them to Jesus: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2 New Living Translation).

Jesus came to be the Light of the World. He came to shine His light in darkness—our darkness, the darkness of this world. We read in Isaiah 9:2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” This was prophesied long before Jesus was born.

Alpha and Omega Are we talking about light years when it comes to Jesus? No, I don’t think so, because the Bible tells us He is the alpha and omega—the

to worship Him.” MATTHEW 2:2 (NEW LIVING TRANSLATION)

beginning and the end. He is as much a bright light today as He was at the beginning of time, or when He came to the earth to take up residence and “move into the neighbourhood” (John 1:14 The Message).

Jesus is not constrained by time. He is the “Light of the World” (John 8:12) and shines light into the darkest places of our troubled world, bringing change. The Light has come! There are no light years that can separate us from this Light. He is here, He knows us, and we can walk and talk with Him now. His purpose in coming was to be with us, but He has been, and always will be, with us.

Source of Light If you do not know Him already, you, too, can know this Light of the World. His name is Jesus, and He came to the world to bring about transformation. If you are seeking change, seek Jesus. If you are living in a dark place in life, seek Him who is the Light of the World.

For those who already know Jesus, He reminds us that we are light in the world. In Matthew 5:14 we read: “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill” (The Message).

May you be a source of light in your corner of the world this Christmas, as you bring the Light of the World to others!

May God richly bless you throughout this Christmas season!

If you would like to know more about the Christmas story, turn to Luke 2:1-20 in the Bible.

(left) General Brian Peddle is the international leader of The Salvation Army.

Photo: denis_vermenko/stock.Adobe.com

when I was journeying through a lengthy season of unemployment. Worse than not being able to pay my bills or trying to explain that I was “between jobs” in social situations was the fact that I was losing hope.

I was working very hard, not only in my job search but also volunteering with many organizations. I hoped to be hired when there was a vacancy, but nothing seemed to pan out. Well-meaning people said, “Terry, what you lack in money, you are gaining in experience.” To which I’d reply, “Yes, and if experience paid the rent and the bills, I would be as happy about it as you are.” I admit, I was bitter.

Sometimes the longer we go without something that’s important to us, the less likely we are to believe we will ever have it. This was how I felt about my employment situation. My whole self-esteem was wrapped up in the struggle to find a job. I was probably feeling sorry for myself more than I should have.

In reality, God was providing. My wife and I had a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs and, most importantly, a supportive network of family and friends who loved us. But I was blinded to much of that at the time because I chose to link my value and worth to whether I was employed or not.

TERRY HARRIS

I’d read my Bible and had been taught that if God takes care of the sparrow, so He would take care of me (see Luke 12:6).

It’s one thing to know Scripture, quite another to put it to the test. Did I really believe in God’s provision and His goodness?

Who, Me? It was during this time that I had an experience that shifted my perspective from self-pity to empowerment.

A couple of months before Christmas, a friend suggested that I apply to receive a Salvation Army Christmas food box.

She reasoned that since I fell within a certain income bracket, I would be “eligible.” Due to my preconceived bias, stereotypes and pride, I hated the fact that I was eligible for a Salvation Army Christmas box. I wanted to work, to be independent and to escape my circumstances.

And I had a certain mindset around who needed those things, and I never thought it would ever be me. However, I reluctantly agreed.

Delivering Joy When the day came to receive the delivery, I was nervous. I felt as if I had “unemployed” written on my forehead, and I was going to be exposed as the failure I believed I was.

I was anticipating judgment as well: “You’d better take this box and you’d better be grateful for it!”

But my concerns were completely unfounded.

The experience of receiving a Salvation Army Christmas box was brief but wonderful.

Photo: mahbub/stock.Adobe.com

When I opened the door, the delivery person came in with a huge box. We received more food than we could have ever anticipated, enough to cover our Christmas needs. It really felt like Santa Claus had landed on our doorstep.

And the man who delivered the box reminded me of Santa, too, not in appearance but in demeanour.

“How you doing? Great to see you!” he boomed as he brought the box up our steep staircases.

He acted like someone who had just heard a hilarious joke and couldn’t contain himself. He said something that got me laughing, and it produced a full belly laugh that shakes your insides and makes you breathless. I hadn’t laughed like that for a long time, and it felt good. What a Christmas gift!

More importantly, he knew how to protect and restore one’s dignity. By the end of our conversation, he had me feeling like I was doing him a favour for taking the Christmas box, as opposed to him doing me a favour by delivering it. The fact that I was unemployed and was eligible for a Salvation Army delivery wasn’t relevant to the conversation. This man wasn’t just delivering food boxes; he was delivering joy and hope, and when he departed our house, he left all of that behind.

Profound Experience A couple of years after that Christmas, I ended up working for The Salvation Army in the chaplaincy department, ministering to those who are incarcerated.

Little did I know at that time that I would have the opportunity to do what that man did, to come in on behalf of the Army and offer the same hope to other people. I realize now that part of my training for eventually working with The Salvation Army was learning how to be a recipient. I’m grateful for that because I now know what it’s like to be on the giving end and the receiving end.

I would like to believe that the whole experience has made me less judgmental, more compassionate, less bitter and more joyful. And for that, I am grateful.

(left) Terry Harris is a chaplain with The Salvation Army in Kingston, Ont. As part of his responsibilities, he is a member of the Spiritual Connection broadcast team—volunteers, chaplains and incarcerated individuals—who conduct a Christian service each Sunday at 10 a.m. on Amherst Island radio station 101.3. It reaches local Kingston institutions and the community and has an international reach through the internet.

Together to Serve Stitch and Chat members stand proudly in front of The Salvation Army’s Montreal Citadel alongside the Christmas trees with their mittens, scarves and toques, free for anyone who needs warmth

Five years ago, Montreal resident Ginette Poulin was going through an emotional time. Her mother had recently passed away, and she was looking for support and comfort. She lived close to The Salvation Army’s Montreal Citadel in the Ville-Émard neighbourhood and noticed an invitation to join “Stitch and Chat,” a group for people who knit, sew or crochet.

“I kept looking at the sign and thought, Maybe it’ll be a good thing. I’ll be with a group of women, and it’ll help me get over the death of my mom,” says Ginette.

“I’m so glad I joined!” she continues. “The people who attend are full of kindness and we all help each other. There’s a lot of love.”

Knit Together The idea for Stitch and Chat transpired at a Salvation Army women’s camp, when members of the church discovered their shared gifts and passion for knitting. Two members had already been knitting Izzy Dolls for

Happy Smiles Stitch and Chat members create special moments every time they get together

Fruits of Their Labour Just a few of the thousands of items the women of Stitch and Chat have created

Health Partners International, which provides medicine and treatment to vulnerable patients around the world, so they were eager to start Stitch and Chat in 2016 to form a community that could encourage each other.

It started with four members and has since grown to upward of 35. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group met every Tuesday afternoon for two hours at the church to work on projects, learn from others, talk and enjoy refreshments.

“Over the years, I’ve registered more than 96 individuals from more than 41 countries in Stitch and Chat—it’s really amazing,” says Louise Fernandez of the Army’s immigrant and refugee programs, who has worked with the Army for 20 years. “It became a fellowship and we began to have meaningful conversations over our coffee break that helped people express themselves and grow closer.

“For example, one time, I asked people to share their first experience of putting makeup on, or I asked them what room they prefer most in their apartment or house, and why. The stories that came out were amazing. We had a woman in our group pass away. Months before, she had given all of us an angel pin for a special occasion. We were knit together as we wore our pins and attended her funeral. These were special moments we created.”

Gift of Warmth Members of Stitch and Chat had knitted more than 6,000 Izzy Dolls even prior to the group’s formation. They have also knitted slippers for a women’s shelter. Every December since 2018, the group has adorned Christmas trees outside the church building with mittens, scarves and toques, free for anyone who needs warmth.

“Instead of dollar store stars and little bells, why not make garlands out of knitted items?” asked Louise.

The initiative is further supported by Farm Wives’ Circle, a knitting group from Châteauguay, Que., who donates bags of knitted items each year.

“Everything that gets taken from the tree, we replenish it,” says Louise.

“Some people find it hard to believe it is a free gift they can take, but the beauty of it is that we trust it is going to people who truly need it.”

The pandemic has meant fewer knitted items than previous years, but the group continues their volunteer efforts to keep people warm.

“If a member doesn’t want to do a programmed project or have their own in mind, we help them so they can accomplish their goal,” says Louise. “We also include the Stitch and Chat members in church activities, so they can be part of Army life and feel welcome.”

Lifelong Friendships Stitch and Chat members met sporadically during the pandemic, depending on restrictions and an individual’s comfort level. Still, Louise and members of the group kept in touch throughout, often through phone conversations, and they plan to gather together as soon as conditions exist for a safe and healthy reunion.

“I received permission from 98 percent of the group members to give their phone numbers to each other, so we would call each other, and I’d ask if they were safe, if they had seen anyone and so on,” says Louise. “Often, they wouldn’t want to hear about themselves; they would want me to tell them something new!”

“We meet on the street sometimes and talk about Stitch and Chat,” says Ginette. “We missed each other during the pandemic, but we keep on knitting because for all of us, it’s a passion.”

Visit The Salvation Army’s Montreal Citadel Christmas tree in December at 6620 Monk Boulevard.

(left) Melissa Yue Wallace is a journalism graduate and freelance writer who is passionate about helping people in need and encouraging the organizations that work tirelessly to care for them. Melissa lives in Richmond Hill, Ont., with her husband and twin children.