Illumined
Luke 2:25-38
An epiphany is a sudden revelation, a quick insight, and an illumination that makes all else crystal clear. We have epiphanies as we puzzle through daily conundrums--a moment of clarity when we see things as they are, then act accordingly. We have epiphanies when we suddenly understand with whom we are dealing. We have epiphanies when we figure out what we want to do with our lives.
Some are difficult, like when we realize we are in a dead end job, a toxic relationship, or a destructive habit or addiction.
Some are wondrous, like when we realize what our true vocation is, following Fred Buechner's great insight (his own epiphany) that vocation is where your passion meets the needs of the world. Or when we realize we are with the person who makes us complete. Or when we realize there is a way out of one of those more difficult epiphanies into a healthier place.
My favorite scriptural story of Epiphany, the high holy day, is not the story of the magi from the East, but rather Luke's account of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus heading to the Temple to be met by Simeon and Anna. I like it because you truly see the wonder of an epiphany. Simeon and Anna find their lives suddenly complete. They suddenly see God before them. They come to realize that all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.
It is that last piece that grabs me--an epiphany ultimately is hopeful, even if it is a difficult one.
With understanding comes direction; with direction comes a path; and with a path, there comes a way into something different and better.
Cling to that as this new year begins and already it looks like the chaos of last year is going to carry on. Focus, sit, think, wonder, and contemplate. God is good and grace abounds. There will be ways to make things better--personally, locally, and globally. Allow God space to reveal what God offers.
But be patient--Simeon and Anna waited a lifetime. So can we.
Be open.
An epiphany is a sudden revelation, a quick insight, and an illumination that makes all else crystal clear. We have epiphanies as we puzzle through daily conundrums--a moment of clarity when we see things as they are, then act accordingly. We have epiphanies when we suddenly understand with whom we are dealing. We have epiphanies when we figure out what we want to do with our lives.
Some are difficult, like when we realize we are in a dead end job, a toxic relationship, or a destructive habit or addiction.
Some are wondrous, like when we realize what our true vocation is, following Fred Buechner's great insight (his own epiphany) that vocation is where your passion meets the needs of the world. Or when we realize we are with the person who makes us complete. Or when we realize there is a way out of one of those more difficult epiphanies into a healthier place.
My favorite scriptural story of Epiphany, the high holy day, is not the story of the magi from the East, but rather Luke's account of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus heading to the Temple to be met by Simeon and Anna. I like it because you truly see the wonder of an epiphany. Simeon and Anna find their lives suddenly complete. They suddenly see God before them. They come to realize that all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.
It is that last piece that grabs me--an epiphany ultimately is hopeful, even if it is a difficult one.
With understanding comes direction; with direction comes a path; and with a path, there comes a way into something different and better.
Cling to that as this new year begins and already it looks like the chaos of last year is going to carry on. Focus, sit, think, wonder, and contemplate. God is good and grace abounds. There will be ways to make things better--personally, locally, and globally. Allow God space to reveal what God offers.
But be patient--Simeon and Anna waited a lifetime. So can we.
Be open.
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