“Are they going to have a collision?” he asked in an awestruck voice.
“Nay, dear Prince,” said the Doctor (and he too spoke in a whisper). “The great lords of the upper sky know the steps of their dance too well for that. Look well upon them. Their meeting is fortunate and means some great good for the sad realm of Narnia. Tarva, the Lord of Victory, salutes Alambil, the Lady of Peace. They are just coming to their nearest.”
-Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis
Jupiter and Saturn are coming to their nearest conjunction on the winter solstice of 2020. (December 21, 2020). I'm no believer in astrology (beyond what God has told us about the Heavens speaking knowledge and praise) - but this seems a portent of something. The two largest planets at their closest and most visible in 800 years - to the point where some people are calling this a replay of the 'Christmas star.'
2020 has been a special year. It has thrown a wretch into all our systems, into the established rules, into the business-as-usual...at least for the common man. (Those who are in power still seem to be working the system behind the scenes...not that I know much about that - it just seems to be what 'they' do...) A lot which has been covered up has come out into the light. Our cultural idols are being shaken up - idols of education, entertainment, information, political security...even the basic concept of the American Dream.
So, on the darkest day of the year here on our little rock in the Northern Hemisphere, a light will shine through the darkness and the darkness (the challenges of space, time, distance) will not overcome it. Space is no void - and there are no coincidences in the enormity of our universe.
Lewis had Caspian and Doctor Cornellius witness the conjunction of Tarva and Alambil before Caspian ever began to realize that 'the old stories' were true. After he wakes up to the heavens, he begins to wake up to a new reality and adventure enfolding around him. The heavens were calling out to those who were awake and listening - like Glenstorm - a prophet who was prepared for the change that was coming - and even to Lucy - who woke up unexpectedly at night and found what her heart longed for.
I wonder what 2021 will bring. What change or twist in the adventure is coming? What challenges? What tests?
What posture will it find us in? Awake and listening - ready to jump in and move? Or asleep and groggy - upset about being shaken out of the comfort of sleep into a cold night?
There has been an understandable amount of contempt thrown on 2020 - but as Christians, I believe we are called to redeem the time. Do not curse this year of change. Do not use the power of your words or actions to demean the time that has been given to us. This year has not been a mistake. It has been orchestrated by God to shake up our assumptions and arrogance. The right response is neither a grunt of disdain, nor a sigh of relief when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2021. We are not shaking the dust of 2020 from our feet. The journey is just beginning. There are two powerful ones shining out into the heavens, calling us to be alert.
So wake up. Let your lamp burn brightly. Look up. Catch the whisper of the wind.
I think Aslan is on the move.
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/great-jupiter-saturn-conjunction-dec-21-2020?fbclid=IwAR0Z1lmqYIumrTbQ363dHjVzoM0TK-ydbRmvb344FITRWR780-a70pKRnnY
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