Unexpected Gifts

I had intended to write the last few weeks but I found myself pleasantly busy with more important things, like family time and rest. After the last several months that have been, it was a much-needed break as Christmas came and went and the New Year rang in.

There have been so many social media posts, tv panel discussions and articles about the importance of setting goals and renewing and improving ourselves, of knowing what to let go of and what to hold on to as 2023 begins. Part of me wants to kick last year to the curb as it was a bit of an annus horribilis. It can be tempting to want to throw it all in the trash and restart from scratch, and yet I realize that if I toss the last year that has most informed who I am today, I will lose much of what can ground and direct me moving forward.

We’re celebrating Epiphany this Sunday (a week late according to the lectionary) and I’ve been thinking about the gifts of the wise men from the east and wondering how Mary and Joseph reacted to them. Gold, frankincense and myrrh were not expected baby shower presents. It wasn’t like they had brought the family mini-van and could throw Jesus’ things in the trunk. They had traveled the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, maybe with a donkey but possibly on foot. What were they going to do with this stuff that probably at best seemed impractical and at worst depressing or even insulting? [Embalming oils - seriously? - although to be fair myrrh and frankincense were used for many other things back then.]

I’m not always the best gift receiver. I have a terrible poker face and if a gift is tasteless or not at all what I like or reflective of me, I have a hard time being sincere in saying thanks and pretending to be grateful. Any movies I’ve seen of the nativity show Mary and Joseph calmly looking on as their uninvited guests come into their living space to gaze at their equally calm and adorable baby. My guess is that the visit was a bit less serene and I wonder if there was much said or shared. In her tiredness of dealing with a young child did Mary wrinkle her nose at the powerful smell of the precious oils? Did she worry that the gold would be hard to hide and keep from being stolen? Did she ask Joseph to send the visitors away so Jesus could sleep? They did leave at some point, apparently expecting nothing in return.

I certainly turned up my nose at some of the ‘gifts’ I was handed last year and had words with God about what was happening. In both my family and work, numerous less than welcome things took place that stretched me in ways I didn’t think I could handle. It was exhausting and often sad and I was reminded again and again that I wasn’t in control of any of it and just had to ride the waves.

And yet, within most of those gifts was blessing and learning and a reminder that I didn’t walk alone. Wise and gentle people showed up and lifted my family, offering meals and rides and listening ears. Mary may not have understood in that moment the significance of what the wise men gave, and they may not have been the preferred bringers of baby gifts, but they were incredibly important to Jesus’ story and the holy family’s survival as long as Herod remained alive. She may not have been inspired to write a thank you note until much later, but as she rode the waves of relocating to Egypt to protect Jesus, she no doubt felt grateful for these men who had turned up on their doorstep.

I pray that we can recognize the gifts that we received in 2022 and the blessings within them, even if they were not welcome at the time. May we have the ability to hold on to what they brought us and taught us as we move into a new year which will also bring us unexpected gifts from unexpected places and people. And may we be willing to be those bringing important gifts to others, not expecting anything in return but trusting that we are helping bring about God’s story as we serve others, protecting and nurturing Christ’s loving presence in our lives.