Sadr

Cygnus is a northern constellation which derives its name from the Latinized Greek word for ‘swan’. The swan’s chest is marked by the star Gamma Cygni, otherwise known by its Arabic name, Sadr. I spotted it on my cycle home from chapel on Sunday evening. A dark, cloudless night in autumn offers the rural cyclist a delectable picture to contemplate, especially as one travels on high ground through unlit lanes between Barlick and Middop. Although there are many stars about which I have no idea, I noted and pondered Sadr. It is a fairly ‘ordinary’-looking star from the earth, yet, inevitably, the reality is more impressive. It is truly gigantic at nearly 15 times our Sun's mass and 180 times its radius. Were it our Sun’s distance from the Earth, we should all combust, instantly. Its great distance spares us great destruction; our not beholding its true scale and power keeps us safe.

This is surely why the Lord, in His wisdom, shields our eyes, knowledge and acquaintance with the bulk of the angelic host. So dazzling and beautiful they are, that we should be instantly led into appalling, damnable idolatry upon glimpsing them (Bethlehem's shepherds were apparently spared such temptation because of the angels' explicit pointing to the Lord Jesus to whom they rightly offered their worship). In our new, resurrection bodies, however, we shall observe them with confidence, rightly giving the glory to Him who is the more beautiful. Until then, they occasionally come unawares, though mainly hidden, watching, and waiting, possibly as curious to meet us one day as we them.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Psalm 103:20

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