Christmas on another planet

The following is an excerpt from “Aliens Are God’s Children Too,” © 2008

The cat manipulates the controls. The vehicle rises and moves further south. The large plant life diminishes as the sun gets lower on the horizon. Where the sun has almost set, they come to a small town. Children are playing, and adults are moving about. The vehicle stops just outside of the town, hovering several meters above the ground.
“If you will disguise yourself as a Quzak, we can proceed on foot.”
Kieya's sloped cushion disappears, and she shrinks to Ooza's size. Then she takes on features similar to those of Ooza. “How's this?”
Ooza giggles. “Except for the hairy arms you look like my colleague Zahrated!”
The hair disappears from her arms. “Better?”
“Much better!”
“It always feels most peculiar to become a biped.” She purrs subtly.
“Don't do that! Quzaks don't purr.”
“Understood. I will restrain my instincts.”
Someone approaches from their left. “We will need to provide gifts.”
Ooza’s face brightens. “Qaak! Except for your eyes and voice I would have assumed your were a Quzak! Very well done.”
“Thank you.”
“Hello Qaak. You just said we will need gifts. Why?”
“The Creator told Walter that this was to happen soon on Ooza's world. We need to humble ourselves and recognize this privilege.”
Ooza is puzzled. “I don't understand.”
“You will. What is the most precious form of spices on your planet?”
“Spice crystals. They have a multitude of uses but are very costly.”
Kieya nods. “I now understand what Qaak is telling us. Do you have fragrant oils here?”
“Yes. This is all so mysterious. I will go along. What else do we need?”
“I remember watching your female support group talk about the virtues of spun gold.”
Qaak looks directly at the new Gaardian. “Ooza, I want you to think back over your lessons in Quzak history. In the age when leaders were born into their legacy, how were these children approached?”
Ooza is quiet and thoughtful for a moment. “We are bringing three gifts. Three especially rare gifts. ...” She looks into the faces of Qaak and Kieya, and tears begin running down her face. “I now know. The Arkaynee! There have been prophecies. Piatek spoke of it recently. We fit the prophecies. This child will bring the quiet but controversial revolution to Quzak that it has waited for during countless generations. This child will rule the hearts and minds of Quzaks for countless generations to come even after returning to The Creator.” She pauses and dries her eyes. “To answer your question, we must approach with humility and reverence. After leaving our gifts we must back out and leave instantly, vanishing and leaving no trace.”
Qaak nods. “I did not come in a vehicle. May I join you in yours, Kieya?”
“Of course. It will adapt. Now. The precise center where the solar flare pointed is that small building over there. Ooza, please provide the appropriate gifts.”
Containers appear in their hands, and they walk quietly towards the small building. Going inside they see a young mother nursing a child, with the mate standing nearby. They approach and begin opening their gifts.
Qaak’s voice is unusually soft and low. “I come from a planet far away. I bring you spun gold.”
Qaak backs away, and Kieya approaches. “I too come from a planet far far away. I bring you spice rocks.”
Kieya backs away, and Ooza approaches. “I come from the eastern continent, north of here. Have no fear. The Creator, Ruach, has brought us. The knowledge of this special event will not reach the other continents for many years. I bring you precious oil.”
She backs away, and the three of them back out the door. On the outside no one sees them exit, for they vanish instantly back to Kieya's vehicle.

Walking in Faith

Walking in faith is a challenge for fools and the brave. There are
those who can see beyond sight, but we cannot trust those who seem
fixed on their egos and lusts. That is what they become — they are
self-centered czars of their followers' oft' shattered dreams.
Walking in faith with Our Lord Jesus Christ is for those who can
let go of pride and find peace in submitting their will, and who
seek to please only the One who redeems. There are those who can
do this and walk not by sight, — but by faith and love too.
Walk not by sight but by faith we are told. We can hear and see
miles of temptation to lure us to logic and safety. So
much of our life is distorted by shortsighted values. We
need to believe that there's Someone in charge here below.
Walking in faith is for those who are foolish enough to be
trusting in God and in that which they cannot see. Then they find
that which is holy released in their humbleness, setting free
power and clearing the ears and the eyes of the blind.
Walking in faith is the excellent choice for the people who
suffer rejection and failure and loss. It is not for the
people who live perfect lives, for insensitive ones, those who
think they’re in charge. It's for those whom the cross has set free.

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed -- and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” (Luke 2:34-35 NRSV)
Evidently Simeon was a very old man. We are told that within the Jewish community he was known as a man who was righteous and devout, and that the Holy Spirit rested upon him. We are also told that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. This meant he was waiting for the vindication of Israel to her enemies by God's messiah or savior. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that rested upon him that he would not see death until that happened. The scripture we are looking at today contains what Simeon said to Mary after he had praised and thanked God for what he was privileged to see.
Many years ago a science fiction movie was made in which visitors from another civilization visited earth and left behind some strange little devices. As they were given into the hands of a wide variety of people the people were told that the devices represented life and death. When the first device was activated several thousand people died within the radius of hundreds of miles. As scientists clamored over the devices in order to study them a great controversy arose as word of the devices spread. Power hungry people and self-proclaimed saviors wanted control of the devices because they represented life or death. Soon the whole world knew of the devices, and panic began to spread as people feared power that might get out of control when unleashed. Finally one quiet individual understood what the aliens had really said. The visitors had spoken of the power of life and death and not life or death. Without asking anyone for permission that quiet person unleashed the power over the entire earth. Those who had compassion, caring, and love for others lived, and the rest did not.
That story is science fiction, but Simeon saw God's reality. Simeon saw not merely the consolation of Israel but the consolation of all humankind. Perhaps Simeon even realized that God's messiah was a redemptive and loving savior of life and death rather than a might warrior of life or death. Jesus, Simeon said, "...is destined for the falling and the rising of many...." What did Simeon see as he said that? We will never know. What did Simeon see when he said that Jesus was destined "...to be a sign that will be opposed...."? Again we will never know.
There are things that we do know. We know of the falling of the Roman Empire and of the rising of Christ's church. We know about the opposition to Jesus' ministry, and how that opposition climaxed in an open tomb instead of a cross. The church is a Christmas people because it is an Easter people. We are fascinated with the manger because of an empty tomb.
My novel, "Aliens Are God's Children Too," reflects on these realities by doing theology through storytelling.

Other Worlds in God's Creation

For all the galaxies, there is God.
For every planet, there are plans.
For all that hunger, there is hope.
For all that reason, there is responsibility.
For all that love, there is laughter.
For all that do not, there is mercy.
Do we wonder why?

Why are men and women so self-centered that they believe that humans are the only ones in the universe that God considers to be His children?

Humans are not alone in God's creation

With planets, life’s often a zoo,

With creatures that think on them too.

These beings are sinners,

But all can be winners

’Cause aliens are God’s children too.