The Fallen Angel

I am trying to think... (a dangerous thing, for sure!) I might be wrong, but I thought there was a children's book about an angel who fell from heaven and spent time wondering the earth in search of meaning, hope, and direction.  Along her way, this little angel meets a variety of interesting characters who, through their interactions, teach her that God is with her wherever she roams - whether the heavens or the earth below.  If not, someone really ought to write one!!

Saturday night, I wandered aimlessly into the parish in which I was raised, worked in, and left rather abruptly two years ago.  While it really didn't have that warm, "welcoming home" feel to it, I occasionally moved my lips to the words of hymns, pretended to pay attention to the readings, and was half-heartedly following along through the Eucharist.  I now understand what it must feel like for all those lapsed Catholics who stumble into churches twice a year to "do their duty".  

This polish priest, the same priest who was there when I left and who walked up and down past the church graveyard talking to me about feeling called to follow Christ for hours, made an interesting point in reference to Epiphany and following the Star.  He pointed out that the star is actually present each night in the sky, but we are all too often caught up in the vast darkness that surrounds it.  Regardless of where we are heading in life, or what kind of vocational journey we are on, each one of us is guaranteed to feel overwhelmed by the darkness and lose sight of the guiding star.  However, he seemed to think that all it would take is asking for a journey companion, who can still see the star, to encourage, to cheer, to chat with... He seemed to think that we will all make it to the creche, like the wise men, to give a piece of ourselves to the infant.  

It's a lot to chew on, and I'm honestly not sure how I feel about it... but to say that it's comforting to know that even angels fall.