Early in my life, my family had several milk-cows; Maude, Pet, Daisy, Bessie, Elsie (who was the spitting image of Borden’s Jersey, Elsie), and—Star. Family lore has it that as a toddler, I gave Star her name. As the story goes, when Star was born, my mom and dad took me to the feedlot to see the new calf; just as the sun was setting I was asked what name should we give the little calf? I looked up, and seeing the glow of the evening star, said “Star!” And thus, Star was named. It made a good story anyway.
When she grew up, Star became the Alpha Cow—if there is such. Usually our cows grazed in the pasture behind our house. Occasionally they were herded down the dirt road to the pasture along side Deepstep Creek. My task became herding them up that road back to the feedlot. My job became a lot easier because, once I opened the gate from the pasture, Star led the little herd in the proverbial “Bee-line” to the feedlot. She was definitely in charge, and to my great joy, she would guide them there quickly and safely! Task done! Much to my relief!
Fast forward a bunch of years—the dawning of the Global Positioning System. My first GPS was a Garmin-mount-on-the-dash thingy. A friend of mine named the female voice of his GPS “Nadine.” I planned to name mine; I thought of how Ole Star would lead the cows home to the feedlot; I told the story of Star to my young granddaughter, Katie. She not only liked the idea, but also said, “Papa, it was a Star that guided the Wise Men to Bethlehem!” That nailed it for me! I named the female voice “Star.”
GPS operations now have become astoundingly precise. For example, we now know why those intriguing “Corn Mazes”—so popular at fall festivals—can be so precisely intricate. Professionals program a GPS on a farm tractor, setting it to guide the tractor making fantastic, labyrinthian, trails in a cornfield. Even in a cornfield, a trusted guide is a treasure immeasurable!
In a splash of ironic Eastern humor, Jesus warned his followers not to follow blind guides; they lead to disaster. He was pointing out how important it is, not only to have a goal, but also to follow reliable leadership, a trusted guide. On another occasion Jesus called some leaders “Blind leaders,” and condemned them for their faulty, if not outright false guidance.
Another sense in which following a star is rewarding; following toward a worthy goal, as the Magi did—which Katie clearly pointed out. The Magi knew from diligent, life-long study, this star signaled a game-changer. A powerful vocational calling, or a deeply felt summons is like that star in the East, compelling, like a lodestone— virtually irresistible in it’s command over one’s life. Jesus likened such a call to a Pearl merchant searching for sumptuous pearls. Seeking such a “star” becomes a magnificent obsession, which is likely to lead to a life lived with joy.
Vocationally, finding and following that “star” gives one a satisfaction reaching far beyond what financial compensation can offer. Some months back, I mentioned Bill Powell, who years ago was a morning DJ on WMAZ radio in Macon, GA. Bill often told his morning ride-to-work-radio-audience, “If I didn’t need this job to make a living, I would do this for free!” It was obvious he had found and followed his star!
©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2022