“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2 (NIV)

The wise men would never have seen that particular star unless they had been watching the night sky.

One of the first things I see after I wake up is the view in my window that faces east here in my bedroom. Lying in my bed, I can see the sun rise or watch a full moon snake its way across the dark sky. Occasionally I am especially treated when the northern lights decide to put on a display, or watch a zillion stars dancing around the Big Dipper.

Years ago we lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, north of the arctic circle. One New Year’s eve, just as we stepped outside to leave a church service we attended in a small village called North Pole, the northern lights were so brilliantly awesome that night. Looking upward, (even though the temperature was well below zero), nobody seemed to mind standing there in the cold looking at that night sky. We were transfixed by the sight of those brilliant yellow, green and red lights dancing up and down across the heavens, even streaking downward to almost touch my hands— a sight emblazioned in my memory ever since it happened.

I also recall that there was an old Eskimo woman who sometimes attended that church. She lived alone by herself in a small cabin, chopped her own firewood, cooked her own meals, and washed her own clothes. She told me that every morning she would first go to the east window in her kitchen to look out to see “if Jesus had returned”.

Simplistic, and perhaps extreme to most of us. But now that I am alone and 80 myself, what she said makes more sense to me every day I am still alive.

Perhaps a relative or a friend might check on her welfare, take her shopping, or give her a ride to church. Nowadays there are government programs to help do those kind of things, yet as good and needful as they are, there is an element missing in all of that, that can never fill the place of “caring and loving” friends and family.

I have a friend called Anita. She and I met years ago when our husbands were still alive, went fishing together and had a grand time roaming around our beautiful Alaska. We call each other at least once a week, sometimes enjoy a lunch together at i Hop and share conversation over a cup of coffee. Both of us are the same age and share our spiritual thoughts, memories and dreams.

But one thing that runs through our minds is the same for both of us. We might try to imagine what life was like for that old Eskimo woman, living by herself in one of earth’s coldest places, knowing she would soon die, probably alone.

For when our bodies can no longer lift the ax to chop our firewood, when we don’t hear so well or see things in focus like we used to do, we wonder. When our friends have passed on to their reward or the ones still around sometimes can’t remember, we wonder. And when a younger generation has never heard, nor even care to hear what we experienced back when…

We wonder…. isn’t it time?

That daily question can keep us old folks a bit apprehensive.

But now that we once again are hearing the Christmas story, a nugget came along just as I was writing this: The answer to that is something this troubled, fearful generation needs to learn about; for it is the same for all of us, at any age, anywhere, included myself, even just as it was for those wise men 2,000 years ago who looked eastward:

She focused on His coming, rather than on her leaving.

Note from Sherry: When I read this article several months ago, Mary’s last sentence touched me and has stayed with me. We can apply it to so many situations in our lives.

• Focus on His coming, not on our fears.
• Focus on His coming, not on our sorrows.
• Focus on His coming, not on our circumstances.
• Even our times of joy can be enriched if we focus on His coming.

Mary E. Adams lives in Wasilla, Alaska. Over half of her 70-year old life has been spent in Christian ministry around the world. She has authored several books and began using the internet to chronicle her insights and revelations from the Holy Spirit. Many people have been encouraged, revived, and inspired by them. Alaska is called “The Great Land”, and great it is! Towering mountains surround her home, and Cook Inlet welcomes visitors to its shores. It is in this idyllic place that Mary became “born again” and filled with the Spirit of God. This experience changed her life forever.

Her husband Bob passed away in 1989, and after living in Alaska and raising a family, she decided to enter missions work in various countries, but mainly concentrating on India and SE Asia.

These writings came about after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and underwent various surgeries. They chronicle her thoughts during physical and spiritual battles that she shares with those who might also be afflicted, but also adds humorous everyday insights the Holy Spirit gives her.

Contact Mary at meamin@mtaonline.net
To be blessed by more of her writings, go to her website: www.maryeadams.com

6 Comments

The Conversation

1. Caroline says:

   December 22, 2015 at 2:42 am

   Loved this beautiful post. And her sentence and your addition, Sherry, touched me as well. I want to remember this! Thanks for sharing it.

   Reply
2. Gene Whitehead says:

   December 23, 2015 at 9:33 pm

   This really made me slow down this afternoon and I felt like I could really imagine things like the little Northern church, the lights and the Eskimo woman. Thank you for sharing this, I really needed to read it today!

   Reply
3. Tai East says:

   January 2, 2016 at 4:22 am

   What an incredible message! Such a great reminder to always keep our eyes and hearts focused on JESUS! Thank you for sharing this, Sherry! May THE LORD abundantly bless both you and Mary now and always! Happy New Year, beautiful friend! 🙂

   Reply
   • sherryjcarter says:

     January 2, 2016 at 6:01 pm

     That was Mary's focus as well. She wrote an amazing post. Thanks for commenting, Tai!

     Reply
4. Mary Collins says:

   January 2, 2016 at 9:41 pm

   What a thought-provoking post. When it's all said and done, we really need to focus on His arrival. Not on our troubles. From one Mary to another I say, thank you.

   Reply
   • sherryjcarter says:

     January 3, 2016 at 12:03 am

     So true, Mary. Sometimes I look around our world and think, "Is it time yet?". I wish it were!

     Reply