FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 31, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 23
vschneps@gmail.com
The world had their eyes
on the sky as two planets
crossed paths on Dec. 21,
creating a sparkling star, a phenomenon
not seen since 1126.
Some people suggested a similar
passing of planets could have
been the star that guided the
Th ree Wise Men in Bethlehem.
Dan Rattiner, the founder of
Dan’s Papers, is a brilliant and
creative being. He wrote about
the phenomenon of Saturn and
Jupiter crossing paths and creating
the brightest of stars in centuries.
He called me and asked if I
would accompany him to East
Hampton Beach dressed as one
the Th ree Wise Men. I was to
carry a lantern (which he would
bring) and a walking stick (my
broom without the sweeper).
Despite the chilly weather
forecast, I immediately said,
“Count me in!”
A man who breathes creative
air, it didn’t surprise
me that he also had asked
the local radio station 92.1
WLNG FM to meet us at
the beach and play classical
church music through
loudspeakers and programming
over the air
waves. And sure enough,
they did!
Lucky for us, the weather
cooperated — the night
was chillingly cold but I was prepared.
I wore two pairs of socks,
two layers of pants, three layers
of shirts, a long fur-lined coat
and my Ugg boots and wrapped
myself in a white blanket — just
as a Wise Man would wear!
We walked on the uneven
pocketed sand and used our
walking sticks for balance as we
gingerly made our way down to
the ocean. And with the planets
aligned and the startling,
sparkling star peeking out from
behind streaks of clouds, we
re-enacted an event from centuries
past.
A surprise was seeing my
brother Bob and his wife BJ
standing before me, with the
added bonus of my nephew
Danny and his wife, who had
just arrived from their home in
Barcelona!
To add to the power of the
special night, my dear employee
Debbie Cusick sent something
to me that I would like to share
with my dear readers:
I know some have seen the
post about the Christmas Star
appearing this year on Dec. 21.
I couldn’t help but really take a
deeper look at how amazing
that this occurrence
would be happening
in the year
2020.
In the year
when Jesus was
born, there was
violence, chaos,
political and
social unrest. It
was dark.
Th e Magi found him by
way of the star, which was
the “meeting” of two stars:
Jupiter and Saturn. Th ey
followed the star until it
rested on where he was and
they began to worship him.
In a time where it was dark,
light was brought into our
world. Jesus stepped into the
chaos and brought peace.
Fast forward to this year,
2020. It’s a time of violence,
chaos, political and social
unrest. It is dark. Th e Winter
Solstice, Dec. 21, is a time
where the day is the shortest
and night is the longest … it’s
literally the “darkest day” and
is the beginning of the cold, dark
winter season.
But on the darkest day this
year, Jupiter and Saturn meet,
giving us the Christmas Star!
How fi tting, that in the moment
of time during the Christmas
season, we get to see this beautiful
reminder that even in the
darkest of times, light will, and
has, stepped in.
In our chaos, He is there. In
our darkest time, He is there.
He brings light, and makes all
things new.
So as you look out on Dec. 21
for the Christmas Star, may we
be reminded of His power, and
His light that he brings for all
mankind. He is perfect at stepping
into chaos and bringing it
into peace.
Victoria’s
DIARY
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
tweet me @vschneps
And there was light!
The recent celestial event has been interpreted as a possible source
of the “Star of Bethlehem” that guided the Three Wise Men.
Me, Dan Rattiner and his wife Chris
as the Three Wise Men/Women.
Former Brooklyn
Borough
President Marty
Markowitz and
his wife Jamie
sent this as their
Dan Rattiner as holiday card.
a “Wise Man.”
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