STEP ONE: BREATHE
Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the air to fill your lungs and expand your body. Exhale and empty yourself into the room. Repeat three times - once for the one who Created you, once for the Incarnate One who walks beside you, and once for the Spirit whose life fills your being.
STEP TWO: DWELL in Word
“When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Each year, on the top of my parent's Christmas tree, is a plastic angel that glows an aged amber. For as long as I can remember, this ornament occupied the pinnacle place atop our family's tree.
The angel comes from a time when my grandfather added toys and holiday novelties to his tire shop to balance the seasonal fluctuations of tire sales. Plastic was 'all the rage' in post-war America. Unlike current formulations, this old plastic was brittle. Over the years, the Lichtenberger angel tree-topper suffered a few critical breaks.
Determined to continue using his angel, my father repaired it many times using contact cement, black electric tape, and even silver duct tape. When I say that it is a 'sight to behold,' I am not exaggerating. Each year that I see the angel atop the tree, it is a Christmas miracle. How does it 'keep going'? But the more significant question that never seems to be asked, at least by my father, is - WHY?
Why keep using that broken, aged, and electric-taped angel? It no longer retains any objective sense of beauty. The ugliest of Christmas sweaters outshine in the 'looks-department.' Is the reason for the continued use of the angel merely a stubborn adherence to tradition? Perhaps. Or maybe it is something more?
For my father, it appears to be a matter of family pride and identity. Were he to design a family crest, I do not doubt that it would include a busted angel with a crooked wing and black tape.
Here is the strange thing. Though I can't imagine ever wanting or using dad's angel on my Christmas tree - I look forward to seeing it each year as part of my folk's decorations. It is part of their holiday treasures that they have displayed, packed away, moved, and carefully redisplayed. The broken angel is part of their story. It is a piece in a larger puzzle of the memory of their lives.
What are the treasures that bear your story? Are they of earthy value as the gifts brought by the magi to the Christ child? Or are they more along the lines of my father's angel - valuable only in the eyes of the beholder?
Do we share our treasures with others? Display them so others can enjoy their beauty (or snicker at the lack-thereof)? Perhaps we hide our valuables - keeping them under lock and key - afraid of damage and theft.
On the day of Epiphany, magi come from distant lands to honor the Christ child, God's treasure for all to see. Insiders - like Herod and his palace crew - were preoccupied with fear, distracted by a need to hold onto what they had accumulated that they missed the star which was right above their heads.
Outsiders, foreigners, on the other hand, had deeper wisdom. Not only did they leave their comfort zones and seek something outside of their tradition, religion, and culture, they were willing to offer their treasures. They were willing to risk and be vulnerable along the way. Generosity accompanied them on their journey.
In the sacred story of the visitation of the magi, we find encouragement to open our minds and hearts to what God is doing 'out there,' in the world beyond. The crowning treasure of God's life revealed in Mary's child, is not to be hoarded or claimed as private treasure.
The life of Jesus is meant to shine a light of hope and love to all people: Believers, non-believers, friends, enemies, insiders, outsiders, natives, foreigners. It is a light that beckons response and participation from generous hearts in the broken and vulnerable places of life.
It is this light that is the real treasure of Christmas, and it crowns not only this season but the whole year.
Step Three: RESPOND in prayer
God of light and life, the magi of old came to offer their worship and treasures to celebrate the Christ child. So inspire me, on this day, to give you glory and honor. Open my heart so that I may offer my treasures willingly. Guide my generosity so that it reflects your love. Move me beyond my comfort zones so that I might engage those who live beyond. Through the Incarnate Christ, Amen.
Friends,
Thank you for reading EVERGREEN. It is my hope that my writing over the past thirteen days has shined a little light onto your path. If your enjoyed reading this series, I encourage you to check out some of my other work (click here) or sign up for the Light From This Hill contact list. On Fridays each week, I send out a FREE resource called the “Weekly Ignite.” It contains inspirational images, a mid-week prayer, something from my archives, and a sermon podcast. I will also share what I’m working on or thinking about.
Epiphany blessings to you and your family.
In Christ’s Light,
Walt