As I look out of my classroom window each day I see two star fruit trees. These have grown steadily over the last four years and have begun to produce fruit in fairly large quantities. As I see the trees covered in purple blossoms, with bees buzzing around, I can anticipate the formation of more fruit and if not picked early it will be good to eat.
Star fruit
My anticipation is built on my experience. I know flowers are essential to the production of fruit (and hopefully so do my students) and the presence of the bees indicates that pollination of those flowers is likely.
Notice that Janet Ziegelebur captured it all – the flower, bee, and the resultant fruit in this shot.
At this season of church year, I anticipate the coming of a different star – the star that announced the birth of Christ. It is a hope because although in history this event took place long ago, this star must shine again as Christ is born into our lives and impacts our world. We sing each year, “O come, O come Emmanuel” anticipating what has been before but has not yet been fully realized. May my heart and life be open to the working of Christ in them this year.
PS Here are the words of this favorite Advent hymn
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save;
Bring them in vict’ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
(taken from the Lutheran Hymnal)
