Seeking an Epiphany

After a two week break from blogging and having a wicked cold over much of the Christmas holidays, I was struggling with what to write about. I was looking for an epiphany of sorts to inspire my still sluggish brain. Of course with last Sunday being Epiphany, the irony isn’t lost on me.

As I watched the Golden Globes Sunday night and took down my Christmas tree and packed away all the decorations, I was struck as I usually am by the regret of this task. The colours and beauty are replaced with the same old. But putting those things away also makes room for other things. I’m forced to sort, to remember, to pack up carefully, not unlike Mary treasuring all that happened in her heart after some bizarre and tiring and joy-filled experiences, not the least of which being the Wise Men who brought expensive gifts that marked the infant Jesus for death and being a high priest and king.

So, once it’s all put away, perhaps we are in need of some kind of epiphany, some kind of nudge to propel us forward out of our over-eating and over-indulging stupor and to recognize the seriousness of the realities of what is happening around us. Just as Jesus’ life was in danger from its earliest days, we are at risk of not being able to live on this planet and of hatred and violence winning. Like the Wise Men, we perhaps need to find another way home.

It struck me as I prepared to preach on this story that the greatest gifts came from those who traveled the farthest and who were not Jewish, and yet they knew what was needed. Perhaps we need to do a better job of identifying the wise among us who are willing to watch keenly for what God is doing and who respond and move us into doing more of God’s will. One story that has inspired me is the over 600 km wall of 5 million women in India on New Year’s Day who were standing in solidarity for gender equality. Are we paying attention to those outside the church’s walls who are doing amazing things for values we hold in common, and who could use our support? Where is God active and asking us to act, and where is God sending us?

As I watched the Golden Globes i was fascinated as always by how the speeches and monologues cut to the bone of current events and issues. Safety of journalists, racial diversity and gender equality, protection of the planet, integrity in politics, and honouring parents were all mentioned. How much are we talking about these things in our life and mission as the church? Perhaps many epiphanies come from scripture or worship, but I also believe that there are wise people who find their way to us with important messages and gifts that we need to pay attention to as well.

This is not the time to be still, but a time to examine our lives and whether the tried-and-true way is the best way or what could doom us. Might we be sent to a place that is different, to unfamiliar people, in order to protect and grow our faith and Christ’s kingdom? Might we be asked to accept something new from those we normally would not rub shoulders with or seek out?

May we show the same fervour and tenacity as the Wise Men to notice what God is doing, and may we be willing to make sacrifices to go where God leads us.