The Wise Man Star–A Holiday Reading
I’m sometimes asked about the many romances I wrote before I began writing longer women’s fiction and mysteries. I’m still proud of them. I often stretched genre limits and always wrote about things that mattered to me.
Recently I received my very own Christmas present, news that German film producers plan to make twenty of those older novels into television movies there. Two have already been made and shown, and I’m delighted with the result. It’s nice to have my old friends so well appreciated.
As one of my holiday presents to you, I wanted to share a passage from Fugitive, which came out in 1990. Tate, the heroine, has moved to a cabin on land in rural Arkansas left to her by a father she never knew. This is an entry from his journal. I hope you enjoy it.
“When one brilliant star hangs in the midnight sky like God’s own night-light, folks hereabouts call it a wise-man star. I can’t think of a reason to call it anything else, can you? Even the wisest of us needs help finding his way sometimes.
“There’s always been a wise-man star on Christmas Eve as long as I’ve been alive-and sometimes I think I’ve been alive forever. The star has always been there, reminding me that there’s something out there to search for, something that needs finding.
“The wise men weren’t just wise, they were brave. It took courage to go looking for that tiny baby in the manger. Not because they could have gotten lost. No, getting lost was the least of their troubles. It took courage because the baby might just get himself found, and once he was, well, lives were going to be changed forever. The son of God can do that to you.
“The son of man can do that to you, too-or the daughter of man. Go looking for the baby in the manger or the hospital, or in the pitiful, thin arms of a starving mother, and your life is changed forever, too. Some of us can’t find our camels to make that search. We sit home, and we search for the star instead. And when it hangs high in a Christmas Eve sky, then it’s just the same thing as being told we’re not all we were meant to be.
“But ain’t it wonderful the way the wise-man star just goes ahead and shines on, anyhow? Every Christmas Eve it shines. Maybe it’s God’s way of egging us on. Or maybe it’s His way of telling us He loves us, anyway, even if we’ve put our camels out to pasture this year.
“I’d like to think so anyway, wouldn’t you?”
Merry Christmas, Emilie!!
I think of you whenever I look at my lovely snow globe. :>)
Juanita Rice
That was lovely. Yes, may I be on my camel, searching….looking for that which would bless the Christ child!
I did find many of your earlier books when I went on line to purchase some of your recent books. Although I had read many of your more recent books, I did want to purchase them so I could reread them and share them.
I decided to purchase several of the earlier books because I have thoroughly enjoyed your more recent books. I did read the Fugitive and the two stories that went with it. I have enjoyed these earlier stories.
I just finished reading Twice Upon A Time. I must admit it was the first book of yours that I could put down. I think I could do that because I just couldn’t see how it would have an ending that I would enjoy. However, now that I have finished the story, I will admit to being very wrong. The ending was great!!! I can’t wait to share it with my friends to get their reaction to the story.
It’s been out of print for many years, so you were lucky to find it. Glad it more than met your expectations at the end. I’m hoping to republish these in the future. There’s a prequel, Once More With Feeling, too.