The TBE staff is happy to introduce Anna Bedell, who is continuing her education as a journalism grad student and starting out as a contributing editor to The Bristol Edition. The following is her first contribution to TBE.
A celestial event appeared in the night sky tonight, on Monday, Dec. 21, which many have thought to be the “Star of Bethlehem” – a direct correlation to the Christian religion story of the birth of Jesus.
According to LiveScience, Jupiter and Saturn will appear 0.1º apart, in a phenomenon known as the Great Conjunction, which appears roughly every 20 years.
The year 7 B.C. is when Christians believe that Jesus was born. The combined light in the sky may have been recorded as a star, thus its connection with the birth of Jesus, also named the Christmas Star, according to EarthSky.
The last recorded Great Conjunction to appear as close and as visible as this week’s occurred on March 4, 1226, according to Scientific America. “For perspective, Genghis Khan was still roaming Asia then,” says astronomer Patrick Hartigan at Rice University in Houston.
Perhaps the Christmas star is a sign of the times during 2020.
It was an epic year that began with the devastating bush fires in Australia, that wiped out nearly half a billion wildlife – with over 12 million acres of natural habitat destroyed.
There were earthquakes in Puerto Rico, floods in Louisiana, volcanic eruptions in Japan, and hurricanes along the eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine.
It wasn’t until locusts appeared in Africa, and a global pandemic erupted, that it made me think of the seven plagues of Egypt.
For believers, these events of epic proportions are a sign that we may be heading to end times, although no one really knows for sure.
For non-believers, it’s simply science and the cyclical nature of the earth’s weather patterns.
Either way, I have been asked, “How do you know God exists?”
My reply usually is, “How do you know he doesn’t?”
Now, I’m not trying to convince people about the existence of God, but I am trying to convince people that anything is possible.
What are the alternatives?
If one stops to think about life, maybe, just maybe, there is a celestial being watching over us – now that brings comfort to many.
Life right now is difficult for all of us, as many people struggle to make sense of a year, that has yielded so many challenges.
“It is during the dark times, that humanity finds a way to fight for our existence.” – Anna Bedell © 2020.
As I drove through Bristol over the summer, I was amazed at how empty the streets had become as many businesses closed their doors during the pandemic.
The medical staff of Bristol Hospital have worked tirelessly, trying to keep up with patients who were infected with COVID-19.
Families lost loved ones and in the grand scheme of things, when we stop to think about what’s important in life, these following things are true.
It’s not how much wealth people collect, it’s not a person’s status, it is however, how much we value our families and friends.
On the last day of your life will you think, “I wish I had more stuff?” No, you will probably ponder,” I wish I spent more time with the people I love.”
It’s during our difficult times in life, when we realize who has stuck by us through thick and thin.
Right now, I’m reflecting, I’m thinking that it’s four days before Christmas, yet it seems so far away.
I looked up at the night sky, with the hope of having even a small glimpse of the Christmas Star. However, the cloud cover made it impossible to see any stars, let alone the moon.
I prefer the name – Star of Bethlehem.
After the year we’ve had, it is a sign of hope. It’s the perfect ending to a year of catastrophes.
Perhaps it’s not just a Great Conjunction, but a great ending that leads to a new beginning.
I hope that 2021 will be the year we all finally put our differences aside and come together as a community.
2020 was a cautionary tale – that not even Shakespeare himself could have written, let alone predicted.
The Christmas miracle is the Star of Bethlehem. I believe, do you?