A Journey Toward the Light
permission to take a deep breath and rest in the wonder of God with us.
Recently my family and I went to Holiday in the Park at Six Flags, Fiesta Texas. To end the day we let our (very tired) 5 year old choose if he wanted to ride the train around the park to look at lights or see a Christmas show. He chose the show, and we were surprised when it turned out to be a Christmas pageant, telling the story of Jesus’ birth.
Mary, of course, rode in on a donkey. Angels came in (from the realms of glory) on zip-lines and in the finale, three wise men arrived dressed in fancy costumes and wearing very large turbans. My husband and I were sort of putting it together in real time, but as soon as we saw the first of the magi, we knew what our children did not, that camels would be coming down the center aisle right next to us. And they did!
The story of the magi is one that continues to captivate imaginations, but we really know so little. We do not know who they were, where they came from, or how many of them there were. We do not know how long it took these visitors to get to Bethlehem or how old Jesus was once they arrived. We don’t know if they came on camels, or what their hats looked like. We are not even really sure about the star.
In her imaginative retelling of this story, Barbara Brown Taylor writes that the star was so bright that none of [the magi] could tell whether it was burning in the sky or in their own imaginations, but they were so wise they knew it did not matter all that much. The point was, something beyond them was calling them, and it was a tug they had been waiting for all their lives.
I have seen many attempts to prove or disprove that this star was real. People dig in their heels (in defense of either position) so far that they lose sight of the story altogether. What does it get us to adamently confirm or deny the particulars of the story? What if, instead, we allow ourselves to marvel at the idea, to wonder at the promise – to let it be (no matter the circumstances) a symbol of light, of love, or of the possibility of another way?
Last Sunday, I preached on the story of the magi in Matthew 21, and as I sat with the story of these visitors from far away seeing or perhaps experiencing a tug to something bigger than themselves – I experienced wonder.
These wise people from the east, perhaps astronomers, or priests, philosophers, – were likely educated and recognized that what they were seeing, or feeling, or experiencing couldn’t be explained. Surely they wanted it to be? Surely, like us, they really wanted the proof, they wanted empirical evidence – and when they couldn’t figure it out, and couldn’t find the evidence, what did they do?
They packed their bags loaded up on camels2 and followed a tug, or a knowing, or a star — and began the journey toward the light.
This story invites me to take a break from “figuring things out.” If you need it, here is your permission to let go and relax into the mystery of the incarnation, the awe of a light that guides us to God With Us. Here is your permission to take a deep breath and rest in the wonder of Love.
Alongside you in the wonder,
Holly
Links & Spiritual Direction News:
If you want to stay up to date with my Spiritual Direction practice, upcoming events etc. you can sign-up for my monthly newsletter for my spiritual direction community at hollyporterphillips.com (scroll to the bottom!).
My friends at The Practice Collective have created a new directory of spiritual directors, and included me in it. If you’re looking for a director you can find their directory here. I also recommend the Anam Cara apprentices & peregrini directory.
Save the date! I’ll be hosting my Lent mini-retreat, Preparing for Renewal, at two different times this year: Thursday, February 27th at 7:30 pm CT and Friday, February 28th at 12:30pm CT. More information and sign-up to come!
Matthew 2:1-12, (I like NRSVUE!)
Maybe?