Saturday, August 2, 2025  

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Today's Scripture
Genesis 15:1–6

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. (NRSV)

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Reflection

I resisted writing this. I’m not a mother. But I know that my influence on the world does not depend on children I don’t have. 

God’s still using this story for me. As I considered it, the stars kept coming to mind. Stars shown to me by God; stars as influence.

When I was a student, I joined my university’s program in England. One weekend, some classmates and I traveled to Falmouth, in southwest England. 

I remember getting off a bus after a long ride and finding a very black night. I’m intrigued that in my diary, I wrote that a difficult day “has just been redeemed by a gorgeous, glorious night.” Redeemed.  

It was an all-time great starry night. I had to try to take a photo. Back then, photos had to be developed. I wrote some notes for my camera records, then wrote about the sight in the tale of the whole day. 

As I reread my notes and diary, I’m surprised that I didn’t write about having lain in the grass with my camera on my face for balance and trying to capture a photo of the stars. I “only” remember that. I have the photo in my mind; it couldn’t be printed.

I wrote that “the lights of the town, visible across the sea” (the English Channel, I sleepily guessed) “are gorgeous, but they can’t equal the thousands of stars and the Milky Way in the clear night sky.” 

What I didn’t write was that I perceived which stars were closer and which farther away. Stars mattered, not darkness. That comes to mind when I look out over Lake Michigan, but with city lights so near, I can’t see the stars like I could on that English night. 

I couldn’t number the stars then. But I remember, and they still influence me. Reading what I wrote has influenced my memory, evoking what I didn’t write at the time. 

A reporter whose work I used to edit has told me that when he hears a voice in his ear advising him, it’s my voice. Friends who remind me of things that didn’t get into my diary tell me that they’ve been helped by something I did. Characters in my second novel, and my unsold first, are my creations. So is my diary itself, recording influences on me as well as how I’ve influenced others.

I’m not writing this to boast. I’m just learning.

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Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all the ways you help us. I believe you, and I can influence your world by observing your creation and joining in its work. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

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Written by Margaret Laing, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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