By Ana Lisa de Jong. All rights reserved.
The new year, like any passage, has always held a special meaning to me. As a poet, its important for me to mark the passing of the days, and especially the significant ones. But greeting the new year with a sense of celebration as I would have liked was difficult, as confined to my bed by unexpected illness it was hard to not feel uncertainty and trepidation around my health; hard to completely trust that I would be equal to the unfolding challenges of a new year.
However opening my journal to September 16, I found I had been in this place before:
Journal Entry: September 2016
What can I control? I thought as I struggled with recovery from illness Struggled with the list of jobs not being done, teenagers on their own paths, a thousand “should have’s”, “if only’s”, “should do’s”. What can I really control?
I opened to:
‘For unto us a son is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder…”
Isaiah 9:6
The ‘government’ (the control of everything) is not with me, it is with him!
“..his ever expanding, peaceful government shall never end.”
Isaiah 9:7
I felt God say to me, ‘you are finding out who you are’.
“You are worried about being small and few but Abraham was only one when I called him.”
Isaiah 50:1
Forget the rules I told myself. This is not Christ’s way of salvation. His path is convoluted, winding. Sometimes it turns back upon itself. We have to go back to go forward. We need to withdraw to heal. We need to find places of quiet to hear His voice and receive His ministry, we cannot always push forward into the fray.
“They are trying to make themselves good enough to gain God’s favour by keeping the laws and customs, but that is not Christ’s way of salvation. They don’t understand that Christ gives to those who trust in him. Everything that they are trying to get by keeping his laws. He ends all that.”
Romans 10:3-4
I realised He will lead me along the way He has for me.
“…. He became their saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted and he personally saved them. In his love and pity he redeemed them and lifted them up and carried them through all the years.”
Isaiah 63:9
I prayed to God:
You are my refuge.
My place to go.
You asking nothing of me, that takes away from my already depleted resources.
You give to me. Shelter, safety, warmth, comfort, counsel.
You speak to me in those complex corners of my heart where even I cannot understand myself.
You soothe. You reassure. You lead me to trust and strengthen my weakness, by asking nothing of me but love and trust.
My faith, in you my Lord can remain strong, when I’m embattled by the world, because you are not in the world.
You understand, you’re not another expectation, upon a expectation.
You ask only that I come to you as I am so that you can restore and heal me to who I am to be in you.
Safety. Safety. Safety.
God keep me safe and secure.
Held close, embraced and carried.
Enveloped in grace, peace and comfort.
There is only you, only you, only you in this place.
“…who have I in heaven but you and I desire no-one on earth as much as you. My health fails, my spirits droop yet God remains. He is the strength of my heart. He is mine forever.”
Psalm 73:25-26
Today I pray for us all, as we enter this new year, and especially as we tell ourselves that we should be running and jumping and scrambling to the fray, with new year’s resolutions set and goals ready and waiting to be achieved. I pray ‘stop’. Stop still and listen. If He is not telling you to move, stay still. There is no hurry. Its day by day, moment by moment. It always has been.
On the road to recovery now, I understand anew the verse He gave me to hold on to over the last few days.
“Go out and stand before him on the mountain,” the Lord God told him. And as Elijah stood there the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain; it was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his scarf and went out…”
1 Kings 19:11-13
From Pixabay.com (click on photo for original.)
The wise men have always intrigued me. Of course the tradition is there – a named three kings bearing no resemblance to the quiet restraint of the Biblical account. There is an air of eastern mysticism that captivates us our imagination and the shiny colours of the children’s nativity costumes charm us.
I wonder if the reality, perhaps, was more prosaic. These were serious scholars, spending hours in quiet solitude, with a deep-rooted belief that the universe is profoundly connected with the fate of humanity and therefore events with a transforming effect on human history must be echoed in the cosmos, and specifically in the stars. Perhaps since Daniel had been given authority over the Persian scholars (Daniel 2), there had been a folklore passed down through their culture of the hope of a Jewish Messiah who would change history.
However erudite however, these were flesh and blood people: individuals with personal histories, families, thoughts and feelings. The journey was a risky one, wild animals and marauders a continual possibility. What if the culmination of their lives’ work turned out to be a fool’s errand? Where would that leave them: their life purpose running out like sand through their fingers? Were there moments of heart-jerking doubt in the middle of the night? Any moments of regret at missing a milestone in their children’s development?
As they knelt (extraordinary in itself that they would prostrate themselves before a child) what mix of feelings must have whirled around their battered and tired psyches? Perhaps amid the joy and relief there was a moment of “What now?” Where do we go when all we have looked towards has been fulfilled? I have so many questions…
Yet, yes, in the end these are the stories of people who, like us, make a journey into an unknown future. Here are my reflections on two of them:
The Magi
I still remember the day I first saw it.
Like nothing we had ever witnessed
For all our hours of study.
It was as if heaven had breached earth:
A dazzling display
Signalling something, surely, to change history.
We could not miss it.
Our wives: well, that was a different story.
Varying from incredulity at our fool’s errand
To outright anger at our desertion,
Hard as it was to explain
The yearning in our souls
That would not be assuaged
By continuing in our ease and security.
The journey was fraught:
One of our party nearly succumbing
To some mysterious ailment:
Reviving only with his desperation
To finish our quest.
Then the curious interlude:
Arriving at the palace
Thinking at last our mission complete:
Hoping our goal was in reach.
Eliciting information we needed,
Yet somehow a stench
More pungent than the camels,
Filling not our noses
But our souls.
The last miles
Seemed never-ending;
And, creeping like a fog
Not seen until obscuring vision,
My doubt sneaked in.
But then I saw Him,
And, in simple wonder,
I knelt
And felt the breath of heaven
On my cheek.
Wife of one of the Magi
I have no appetite
For politics or religion.
The first the refuge
Of the power hungry
The second for the desperate.
I married him
Because I loved him
The rest just came with it
Like an unwelcome guest
Who would not leave
And must be tolerated.
He never talked
About his work
Which suited me fine
I knew my place
The kitchen and bedroom
My domain
But not the altar.
And then he left
On some foolish quest
And my simmering resentment
Burst into energising flame
Planning with every day
Of absence
All that I would say
On his return.
A thousand conversations
In my head
In the waking hours
Of the night.
And then he came home.
And all of them
Were silenced.
This post is part of our reflections on the season of Epiphany.
I am getting ready to launch myself into a new phase of life. I plan to work on a new book on creative spirituality and am beginning not with planning for the future but with looking back at some of the lessons I have learnt over the last few years. I am exploring creative ways to strengthen both my own faith and that of those I work with.
Above is one of my favourite prayers from the last few years, which seemed to be appropriate for the stage that I am hat in my life. I hope you enjoy it too. And here are a few of my most valuable lessons that I thought you might find helpful too. The post itself is adapted from this one I wrote recently for the V3 blog.
Ask Questions:
It is about 10 years since I started asking people What makes you feel close to God? The surprising responses have helped me realize that our traditional ways of practicing our faith and doing discipleship just don’t work for many. I have frequently affirmed that many of us encounter God much more powerfully when we walk through the forest or talk to a friend than we do when reading the Bible. Parents see God reflected in the faces of their children, and aid workers see God in the pain and the suffering of the destitute and the homeless. Others encounter God in the midst of “lostness” when they feel far away from friends, family and God, the dark night of the soul medieval mystic John of the Cross talks about.
Identifying the everyday actions and encounters that draw us into the presence of God and nourish our faith should be a priority for us. Forest church is one new movement that has taken this seriously and developed some powerful tools for helping participants strengthen their faith through interacting with nature. What forums could you create with your friends or in your church where participants have the freedom to ask faith changing questions?
Provide Variety
One size does not fit all. I found many of the Bible study plans offered to me as a young Christian boring, but persevered because I thought they were the only possible ways to explore the Bible. Now I know there are many possibilities – some intellectual, some contemplative, some experiential. All of them have equal validity.
It’s the same with spiritual disciplines. There are many ways to pray, worship and practice our faith. Some of these like prayer stations provide inspirational and experiential approaches to bring to our worship services. Others, from the exercises encouraged by Sybil MacBeth in Praying in Color to the writing of poetry, knitting, whittling and the meditative archery taught by Angie Fadel, show an emerging world of creative, experiential practices we should encourage our congregations to explore and experiment with. These provide rich opportunities for all of us to express our faith in ways that appeal to our personalities, nurture our spirits and strengthen our faith perspectives. What inspirational new forms of spiritual disciplines could you explore with your congregation?
Encourage Journalling.
I love to journal and have been delighted in the last few years to discover new and creative ways to practice this. Journaling is no longer just about writing. There are art journals of various kinds including scrapbook journals, nature journals, collage journals and even Bible journals. You can prayer journal the labyrinth, doodle, write music, create maps, take photos, paint on rocks or plant gardens that map your journey.
There are an infinite variety of journaling forms that we can encourage people to experiment with. How could you explore these with your friends and or congregation?
Have Some Fun
Evidently, according to this Atlantic monthly article unscheduled, unsupervised, playtime is one of the most valuable educational opportunities we give our children. It is fertile ground; the place where children strengthen social bonds, build emotional maturity, develop cognitive skills, and shore up their physical health. I suspect it has the same benefits for adults, though less studies have been conducted that prove this.
A few years ago Volkswagon started a program called “the fun theory” where they explore new ways to get people to do things that are good for them or good for the environment. For example, it is noted that more people opt to take escalators than stairs even though stairs are much more healthy. So in Sweden, a team was hired to transform a staircase (next to an escalator) into a piano so that when people took a step, a note was triggered that would make a sound. The result was astounding. By making it fun, a ton more people took the stairs versus the escalator.
It is not just church picnics that provide opportunities for fun together. Painting murals at church, community cookouts, or hosting neighbourhood game nights all create fun environments in which to explore faith. Sitting around the table for a good meal with friends is probably the most faith strengthening activity we can engage in. What fun projects could you encourage with your friends or in your church to nourish peoples’ faith?
Our God is a God of infinite creativity. Prayerfully consider the tools shared above and other creative ideas you have for strengthening the spiritual life of your
by Lynne Baab
From Pixabay.com (Click Image for original.)
“Wow, I just had an epiphany,” someone says.
“What’s that?” a friend responds.
“You know, a bit of a revelation. I suddenly see something in a new light . . .”
As we celebrate the Christian feast day of Epiphany, it is helpful to consider the parallels between the common use of the word “epiphany” and the historic Christian understanding of Epiphany connected to the story of the Magi, or wise men.
An epiphany is a revelation or manifestation of something previously hidden or unclear. At Epiphany we remember that God revealed something through the magi that was previous hidden. What previously hidden thing are we talking about?
Throughout the Old Testament, God desired that the people of Israel be a “light to the nations.” In one of the Servant Songs in Isaiah, God says, “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple vividly but briefly reflects God’s concern for the whole earth. Solomon prays for foreigners who will come to the Temple to pray, asking that God would answer their prayers so that “all peoples of the earth may know your name” (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). If you have any doubt that God’s intent from the beginning was to enfold all people, read Psalm 96 and count the number of times all the peoples of the earth are mentioned.
God desired that the people of Israel make known to the nations God’s power and love. The people of Israel hardly ever rose to the task. In fact, they kept God’s love for the nations hidden, either through willful disobedience or through lack of understanding of the significance of the truth they had been entrusted with.
In Christ, this hidden love of God for all people would be revealed more fully, and the first hint of that revelation is the arrival of the magi. The story of the magi in Matthew 2:1-12 gives a glimmer of God’s intent that Jesus, this incarnate God, would fulfill Israel’s purpose of being a light to the nations.
The magi were Gentiles. They came from “the East,” possibly from what is now Saudi Arabia or Iran. They were not people who worshipped the one true God; instead they were astrologers who looked to the stars for guidance. The people of Israel had not fulfilled God’s purpose to be a light to the nations, so the stars spoke to the magi about the significance of the birth of this baby!
At Jesus’ baptism in the temple, the beautiful old man Simeon understood the significance for all nations of this baby. Simeon says:
My eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light of revelation for the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2:30-32)
The notion of light appears so frequently in these stories. The wise men travel by the light of a star. The nation of Israel was called to be a light to the nations. Simeon sees that Jesus will be that light, foreshadowing Jesus’ words about being the light of the world (John 8:12). And part of the meaning of the word “epiphany” is to see things in a new light. The light of Jesus, revealed at Epiphany, highlights something that had been hidden: God loves all the people, of all the nations, on earth.
I invite you to spend some time reflecting on 2016.
- Did you see anything about God in a new light in 2016?
- Did you see anything new about God’s love for all nations?
- For 2017, what would you like to pray for with respect to God’s light and God’s love for all peoples?
Today is the final day of the Christmas season. Tomorrow begins the season of Epiphany. The gift of God was announced by a star and a dazzling host of angels. The Light of God had come into the world to turn it up-side-down, shifting momentum from chaos to shalom.
The arrival of the Magi from the East extended this light beyond Israel, to the farthest reaches of the earth. Epiphany reminds us that Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55) is mirrored in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). The ways of empire are upended by a new order based not on greed, abuse of power, violence, and hate, but on love for others, self-sacrifice, community, and grace.
My Epiphany challenge is to re-read Jesus’ sermon, beginning with the Beatitudes, asking myself:
- Where do I find myself in Jesus’ radical call to follow him in all of life?
- Beginning right in my own neighborhood and city, where have I been a blessing to those mentioned here? (God often uses us to answer the prayers of others. Am I paying attention and available?)
- Who are my partners in radical discipleship? This is not a journey done alone, it’s a journey undertaken by a community walking together. How are we encouraging each other? How are we holding one another accountable?
- Together with my faith partners, where do we see the need for God’s love, justice, and healing to break through? How might God be calling us to be Jesus’ hands and feet in these places?
- Again, with my faith partners, what challenges to our neighborhood/city can we anticipate during the coming year? Who will be most affected by these issues? How can we prepare now so that we’re ready to respond to those in need?
These are just a few of my questions as I ponder again the meaning of Epiphany. God’s salvation and shalom are for the whole world. In Jesus, God’s desire for Israel to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth is fulfilled… and is being fulfilled. Each one of us is a part of this blessing. As we enter this New Year and encounter Epiphany once more, we can respond, “Here I am, Lord, send me”.
The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:3-12
Jesus said:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Only two more days in the Christmas season. Friday we will take down our Christmas tree and lights. We will pack away our advent wreath for another year and replace the poinsettias on our mantle. I always struggle with this because it seems that suddenly we replace the promise and joy of Christmas with a drab and uninviting plainness.
But in the midst of this plainness I start to think about the need to get outside and get going with the spring garden. Heaps of catalogues arrive in the mail and my fingers itch to get down into the dirt and make something happen. It had not occurred to me before but this garden activity seems like a very appropriate one for the season of Epiphany, that season when we are all encouraged to get out into the world and tell others about the Saviour whose birth we have just celebrated.
Making something happen to bring new life into our world is the spirit of Epiphany. We are called out into the world not just to talk about Christ but to reveal him to others through our deeds and actions. The garden is one place in which I both connect to God and work to help others connect to God as well, but it is not the only place. One of the challenges I have been thinking about over the Christmas season is How do I reveal Christ to others through my life? I want this season to be a true epiphany for myself and those around me.
Here are some other suggestions that I posted a couple of years ago:
There are many different ways that you could reveal the message of hope to others during this season. Consider doing one of the following during the weeks of Epiphany
- Do you have new neighbours? Are there newcomers to your church? Invite them over for an evening to get better acquainted
- Is this an opportunity to reach out to people in your office or workplace? Consider providing breakfast for those you work with. If you are feeling particularly adventurous you might like to make this a weekly or monthly event.
- Is there a university close by with international students? Invite a small group of students home for lunch or dinner. This is a great way to get know about another culture and the students will be very eager to learn more about your culture and religious traditions.
- Is there a senior care facility near where you live? Take your children over for a visit. Get them to read a story or sing a song for the residents. Consider taking some of the elderly people out for a trip.
- Is there a special way in which your children could reach out to others at their school or play group? Talk to them about the Biblical story and ask them to come up with one way that they could reveal the hope of God the their playmates.
What are your expectations for the season of Epiphany?
I had an epiphany last year, and it just so happened to be on Epiphany! As I sat in church I glanced ahead to the gospel reading for the day, the visit of the Magi. I just caught the last few words of the reading, “…another road”. I don’t know why my mind went there; I know what the standard reading for this day is, but instead of thinking about the Magi, my thoughts shot to Jesus on the road to Emmaus.
It was an interesting mash-up, Emmaus and Magi. Was there something there?
Cleopas and his traveling companion were headed out of Jerusalem after the horrifying and confusing events of the crucifixion. There were rumors of glory, but that just deepened the mystery. They had met Jesus, the one they “hoped would be the Messiah”, but now they were on a new journey, a journey toward understanding. Jesus walked with them. Their hearts “burned”. But their epiphany didn’t come until Jesus sat with them and broke bread. (Lk. 24:13-35)
As I thought about this in relationship to the story of the Magi (Mt. 2:1-12), I wondered what must have gone through their minds as they followed that star. Was it simply a diplomatic trip, or something much more? Was it a one-off event, or the beginning of something entirely new?
Many have speculated about what it meant when the Magi “knelt down and paid him homage.” And that’s all we can really do, speculate. But the Magi knew enough to listen to their dreams and not return to King Herod. They knew they were “overwhelmed with joy”, and I want to believe that their travels home were filled with questions, with wonder, and awe.
- The Magi were paying attention so that when they saw the star they knew it was time to travel. They journeyed, searching for this new-born King of the Jews. Cleopas and his friend likewise were paying attention. When Jesus arrived they knew enough to be present, to listen and learn, to even hope that he was the promised Messiah.
- Just as the Magis’ epiphany was not at their first sighting of the star, so Cleopas and his companion’s epiphany was not at their first sighting of Jesus but rather a later encounter with him in Emmaus.
- Like the Magi who were overwhelmed with joy at seeing the star stop over the place where Jesus lay, Cleopas and his friend’s hearts “burned within them” as Jesus opened the scriptures.
- And like the Magi, their epiphany led them down a new road. Oh, it was the same road from Jerusalem, but now it was totally different. On their way to Emmaus they insisted Jesus stay with them. It was late and the road was far too dangerous to travel at night. But now, after their encounter, after their epiphany, Cleopas and his friend immediately headed all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others. Everything had changed.
This season of Epiphany I wonder.
- I wonder how often we see the star and sit in the presence of Jesus, filled with joy but perhaps oblivious to the real possibilities. Confusing a feeling for a genuine epiphany, getting the good feelings but heading back down the same old road as before.
- I wonder about this word epiphany and if we can say we’ve had one if it doesn’t fundamentally change us.
- I wonder how often we seek an epiphany, the experience of an exciting new insight or discovery, and allow it to change us a bit, but aren’t paying enough attention to realize that God meant it to be not just one epiphany but a series of epiphanies carefully designed to help us move forward into a future of possibilities beyond our current ability to ask or even imagine. Do we settle for partial change?
- And I wonder whether we can truly grasp the epiphanies before us when we walk alone – for neither the Magi nor Cleopas traveled their paths in isolation. We are created for community.
Epiphany is not just a day but an entire season
Epiphany is not just a day but an entire season leading us to Lent. Epiphany is a journey, not just an event, and God gives epiphanies to us to bless and prod us along into becoming the people we are created to be. It’s helpful that this season falls in the new year of the western calendar. This is a perfect time to reflect on the epiphanies God gave the previous year and how we have allowed them to change us — or have resisted that change. Rather than making a bunch of New Year’s resolutions, what if we simply resolved to pay more attention and to more fully allow God’s epiphanies to change us?
I wonder…
This post first appeared on the Mustard Seed Associates blog in 2014
As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small amount for purchases made through appropriate links.
Thank you for supporting Godspace in this way.
When referencing or quoting Godspace Light, please be sure to include the Author (Christine Sine unless otherwise noted), the Title of the article or resource, the Source link where appropriate, and ©Godspacelight.com. Thank you!