Published: October 10, 2008 03:59 pm            

Shine like the stars

Jamie Parsell — What is it about stars that fascinate the human spirit? A five pointed object no different than a circle, a star gets all the attention — in literature, the arts, the Bible and in the classroom. We like stars so much that we stick one on top the Christmas tree every December. In the Bible, the three wise men followed a star to the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. The city of Roanoke, Va., lights a star on top of a mountain that overlooks the city. In ancient times, the stars provided light and a larger-than-life road map. Teachers give stars to the good kids in school. And of course, Hollywood has TV and movies stars.

As a child, a star is one of the first shapes drawn on a piece of paper with a crayon. Flawed and uneven, the star is a symbol of a childlike desire to create a tiny piece of magic. After learning the basic shape of a star, we incorporate it into songs like “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.” Written in 1806 by Jane Taylor and composed by Mozart (he wrote 12 different versions), parents sing the silly lullaby to newborn babies, hoping that the soothing lyrics will put them to sleep. A star for homework. A star for the football team. A star in a pair of twinkling blue eyes.

The stars — too many to count — are everywhere.

I started to think about the shape, the symbolism and the obvious appearance of stars because of a pair of bright blue eyes. You see, her eyes held the twinkle of life, which shined brighter than any star in the night sky. In every picture, the camera caught the light in her eyes. With every smile, her eyes lit up her face — no matter the day or the hour. And then, her eyes did something different. A star can only twinkle. But her eyes, they danced for the joys of her life — her friends and family. Even the little things — color, shopping, music, school — made her eyes sparkle with such intensity that I had to take a second look.

She passed away this week. And no, I didn’t grow up with her. I didn’t attend the same high school. But like friends do, they introduce new friends to old friends. I learned little things about her in the last four years. I knew her favorite color — cerulean, a mixture of blue and green. I listened to her love story. I sat in the car and sang sassy county music songs by Miranda Lambert. But the best thing I learned about this special person is that one of her favorite verses (I really don’t think she could pick just one) in the Bible was Philippians 2:15, a verse that reminds God’s children to shine like the stars. The physical twinkle is gone. Yet, her legacy is brighter than any diamond in the sky. Her love of life, her commitment to friends and family and her desire to serve God truly allowed her to shine like the stars — in more ways that one.

The song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” has five different verses, a surprise to many. My favorite verse is stanza three, which reads, “Then the traveller in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark, he could not see which way to go, if you did not twinkle so.” Yes, a star can physically cast a trivial amount of soft light in the dead of night. As a metaphor — a comparison of two objects — a star can be compared to life. Want a more specific comparison? A star is a person with a bright testament of faith, certainty and kindness. This type of star stands outs. Its light is not dim; neither is it forgotten.

We all want to be a star. Yet life’s greatest desire is not to be a star on the catwalk, the screen or the stage. My friend, with those magical blue eyes not only shined like the stars, but served as a guide, is an example — a reason to take a second look at life’s biggest joys. And like a traveller on a dark road, I am filled with gratitude for her light — thank you.

Jamie Parsell is the Lifestyle editor for the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at jparsell@bdtonline.com.

        

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