Linda Burch, Member of St. Luke’s since 1972, Good Will Class

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ in God forgave you.

Reflection:
Stop! Get a pen or pencil. Draw a five-pointed star. Starting at the top, number the points as you move clockwise around the star you have just drawn. My sequence for star drawing is 4-1-3-5-2-4. What is yours? 

This exercise appeared in my Facebook feed a few weeks ago. It was designed to illustrate that it is possible to achieve the same result by using different methods.

I was intrigued by the variety of responses and the light-hearted banter of the people choosing to participate in the exercise. Each person assured the others that his/her chosen way of drawing their own star was the best and correct way.

Altogether, I counted nine different numbers of sequences used to construct individual stars. I tried them all. Some sequences, other than my preferred way, flowed fairly easily, but others felt awkward. However, each sequence did result in a five-pointed star.

I concluded that two factors play a role in one’s preferred method of star drawing — handedness and how one was taught. I’m right-handed, but who taught me how to draw stars? Was it my very artistic first-grade teacher? My mother? My dad? My grandmother? Another child? Did I simply learn by observing others, or did I ask for guidance?

I taught elementary school for almost forty years. How did I teach “star” drawing? Who learned patterns from me? What did I model for my students? What am I currently modeling for others in my daily life? How is my star shining? These are all sobering questions.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul teaches ways to live in unity with God and one another. Chapter 4 is filled with advice for living as children of light. It states things that Christians should not do followed by things they should do. It ends with the two verses at the top of this page.

During this season of a pandemic — uncertainty, unrest, and fear — how are we drawing our stars? What are we modeling and teaching by example? Is it bitterness, rage, and anger, slander, or some other form of malice? Are we striving to show kindness, consideration, and forgiveness? Hopefully, we are drawing shining stars. 

Closing Prayer:
Oh God, thank you for Paul’s teachings in his letter to the Ephesians. Please give us hearts willing to listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Help us to measure our actions and words. Grant us generous spirits and kind hearts. Help us to be a light in the darkness. Amen.