(Book Review) "The Stars" by Alphonse Daudet

1. Summary

'The Stars' was published in 1868 by Alphonse Daudet. When reading this short story, I thought holy and pure were like both sides of a coin. 

Here's the summary.

I, as a shepherd, am alone for weeks in the mountains to feed sheep. I yearn towards the daughter of my master, my lady Stephanette.

One day there is no one else to deliver two weeks' provisions to me, so Lady Stephanette comes to me herself with the essentials on the mule.

With all done, Stephanette goes down the mountain but comes back up because she has found a stream flooded by the rain.

I have the lady Stephanette inside the place, and I stay outside to keep her safe. She comes out as she can't sleep. God is my witness. No wicked thought arises in me, despite the fire of love that burns in my blood.

To the young lady who is afraid of the night in the mountains, I tell the story of stars in the sky. Stephanette, who's been listening, falls asleep with her head on my shoulder.

I imagine one of the stars, the finest and the most brilliant, loses her way and lies on my shoulder to sleep.

2. Lessons

This story gives us the feeling of a poem or love song. It is not offensive or sensational but lyrical, like a melody of pure love.

Even as Christians, our character still has too many marks of sin. We learn from 'The Stars' that holiness the Bible says is synonymous with purity, which has washed away the stains of sin.

It would be nice if we can always look at the purity of our souls that the stars in this novel symbolize. Then the lyric poetry of 'The Stars' will be engraved in our souls.

Psalm 19:1 sings, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

The stars contain the glory of God. So when we see them, we cannot help but praise God's superiority and splendor.

In this novel, the shepherd thinks that the most beautiful and shining star among countless stars is Stephanette.

There is no doubt about it. The Bible says that when God created all things and finally made a man, the creation was not just good, but "very good."(Genesis 1:31)

The true Christian, whose image of God has been restored, must be the most beautiful and shining star like Stephanette among all the stars in the sky.

Years ago, I tried street evangelism on every weekend. I reached out to many people with the gospel, but I was often rejected and turned away. When I encountered Christians in the street sometimes, I couldn't be happier and more grateful.

Looking at many passers-by, I  thought that the Christians would be like shining stars like jewels in the spiritually dark world in God's sight.