One of the messages of Christmas is, when you see the star, follow it.

In the fall of 1960, British lawyer Peter Beneson read about the fate of two Portuguese students who had done nothing more than drink a toast to freedom.  Portuguese dictator Antonio Salaszar was in power and he sentenced the two students to jail for seven years.  Peter Beneson decided to so something about it. He enlisted the help of neighbors and friends.  He then embarked on a one-year letter-writing campaign on behalf of religious and political prisoners everywhere.

Amnesty International grew out of Peter Beneson’s following the star.  It has won the Nobel Peace Prize for highlighting the conditions and sufferings of religious and political prisoners all over the world.  Some of the world’s most powerful dictators have bowed before its pressure.

I wonder what would have happened if Peter Beneson had not seen the star that day.  The more serious question is, what would have happened had he seen the star and not followed it?  When you see the star, follow it.