Under A Starry Sky

When you are about sitting down to your supper, I am usually heading to the barn to do the evening chores. I start by bringing the sheep into the paddock next to the barn, distributing flakes of hay to every hungry sheep, filling the buckets with fresh water, closing up the gates... not forgetting to turn the power on the electric fence, and finally...light out!


Because I love this time of day in the barn, sometimes I linger longer than I need to. I always feel a sense of contentment and amusement as I stand in the midst of the sheep at feeding time. With mouths bulging with hay to overflowing, they glance up at me as if to say, "this is our favourite time of day too." Eyes soften, muscles relax and everyone begins to settle with a sigh. Some will shuffle over to me for a sniff or scratch.


As the sun's light disappears, the barn lights are turned on, pouring out of the windows and doors into the darkness, an image I love. Have you ever travelled in your car at night, starring into the windows of brightly lit houses? It's like peeking into people's lives. Are they watching television, doing homework, talking together? 'Oh look, that family is gathered around the table!' These are their homes where they are safe, cosy, warm and free to be themselves. It's not just that I'm nosy (well maybe just a little) but to me, these are glimpses into people's lives that remind me, that we are all travellers, needing to come home.


About 1700 years ago, a troubled young man, named Jacob, running to save his life, lay his head down on a stone rock, under a starry sky. In his dreams, he saw a ladder sitting upon the earth and reaching into heaven. As angels of God were ascending and descending on it, the Lord, God of Abraham, stood by his side and promised to give him a home and a future. Terrified, Jacob realized this was indeed a holy place as he said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." (Genesis 28:17) This was his father's house and Jacob had come home. God stood beside him and he was no longer just Abraham's God or Issac's God but from now on, He would be Jacob's God!


For many of us, there is no perfect home to come to. Today, we find ourselves too busy to sit down at the table and share a meal and the day's events. No longer do we finish our days with bed time stories and prayer times. Sunday mornings, going to church as a family has been replaced by Sunday hockey schedules. Sons become disappointed with fathers; daughters become disappointed with mothers. We don't look at each other when we talk. We decide that we can't trust our secrets with family members but we decide to share them with strangers on the internet...they will listen. The house fills up with unspoken dreams and worries and we sit staring at other people's lives on television.


But along comes Father God into your life and he stands beside you. It might be in your kitchen, your bedroom, the barn or out under the starry sky. You may not see but Jacob's gate is there. He comes in power to sort out your problems-no matter how big or small, to teach you things you barely understand, to listen-really listen to you, to heal your broken hearts, and to set you free from the things you can't seem to walk away from. He will pour His great strength out onto you until out of you will flow His goodness. Your mind will be expanded with His thoughts. You will become a kinder and gentler person but willing to run further, faster and harder for anything He asks. You will be a new person, if you lose yourself in Him. He is the gate to heaven, your home.


Stomach's full, the sheep begin to move out of the barn to lie down in the darkness, under the stars. They don't mind the darkness or even the coyotes calling in the distance, they remain still and quiet, starring out into the night. The worries of the day fade and they allow their bodies to rest. I wonder what they are thinking as they stare out into the night. Like my sheep, you need to "stare long and hard into the mysterious might" so that you will come to know the deep things of God.


I pause at the door of the barn before going out. Nothing is heard but the soft sounds of the night as I finally close the door. Good night sheep. Thank you Lord. Jacob's gate remains open.