They were wealthy men, these Wise Men.
Busy with home, business and responsibility.
A tractor beam of light drew them away from common earthly life and toward extraterrestrial signs in the sky.
What does it mean? They wondered.
And studied the stars…the very thing that we are made up of.
The dust of Heaven.
These leaders were led,
Led by a passionate desire…A desire to know,
Who is this coming King that heavenly bodies would align as a birth announcement?
Their desire provoked them
drove them, kept them up at night.
Up consulting star charts, figuring how to follow that yonder star.
They prepared a gift
A gift fit for a King. The best of what they had…
Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
And then they left all
All to follow that beacon of light
Nestled in velvety darkness at the hush of a winter night.
Forgetting worries and cares
frets and concerns.
All to find out what It all means. And to present their gift.
Waiting to exhale…breathless
on the edge of their camel seats with anticipation.
Craning, straining their necks to see if The Answer is found around the corner.
And I too, am on that journey
Looking up to the sky I wonder, What does it all mean?
And I study the charts of the prophecies of Old.
I find Him in every Book
Foretelling His coming.
and I am kept up at night with the desire to find Him…to know Him.
I look for the Way
The path toward an epiphany.
The path from Advent to Epiphany.
Epiphany: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
An epiphany of Who He is,
and consequently who I am and
Advent is an important piece of the puzzle.
Advent: The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important
Just as the wise men looked at their astronomical charts,
consulted their maps and packed their camels,
I too, prepare.
I must prepare a gift
Fit for a King.
For a moment I hesitate. What can I give to a King?
My whole life, I’ve been preparing for this.
I’ve held my breath for an unearthly long time. And now, the time has come.
Will I find Him around the bend around the corner?
And they found Him in the most common of places.
A stable. In a manger.
A King. Amidst the ordinary.
For that is an epiphany at its very definition.
An insight found in some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
And I find Him in the most common of places.
A bench. In a park.
A King. Amidst the ordinary.
Beautiful!!
Thanks…I accidentally published it while I was still working on it. You probably read a VERY rough copy!! Ooops.
“the dust of heaven”… perfect. What a great reminder that the wise men too were consumed with something that they didn’t fully understand. Beautiful!
Yes, they didn’t know exactly what they would find….yet we take all of the wonder out of the journey by seeking a presupposed Jesus.
This is just wonderful…I love…found in the simple, homely or common place occurrences or experience…oh how many time I miss Him…for Grace to live in Holy wonder….
blessings to you as we all continue to journey to epiphany….
for Grace to live in Holy wonder. Yes, please, Lord.
So beautiful. I too am finding Him in unlikely places. This was encouraging to me today.
I’m so glad this encouraged you friend. That is why I blog in the first place!
You are finding Him everywhere…you are blessed.
I must find Him, for He is fullness of life.
Beautiful poem and thought! A message of hope for the season!
I need a message of hope for my soul. I hunger and thirst for more of Him.
An excellent reminder of what the wise men risked, of all that they went toward blindly. May I be so bold.
We know the end of the story of the Magi, but it is interesting to remember that they did not, isn’t it?
I’m looking for the King too. He is found in ordinary places, yes? Thanks for sharing this.
I am looking in the ordinary place of a rusty park bench and in the extraordinary places of the dance floor of the stars…
Your post reminds me of a quote: “Every happening, great and small, is a parable by which God speaks to us. And the art of life is to get the message.”
Really liked your definitions of “advent” and “epiphany”. . . good food for thought.
Thanks!
You’re welcome Kelli. Thanks for sharing your quote! I want to get the Message…
nice…i love finding god int he unlikely places…of course it is unlikely for him not to be somewhere we just have to look…
What a lovely thought! It is unlikely not to find Him. Love it!
“My whole life, I’ve been preparing for this.
I’ve held my breath for an unearthly long time. And now, the time has come.
Will I find Him around the bend around the corner?”
This is who I long to be. This is how I long to feel. My Advent is helping me anticipate my King. 🙂
This is who I long to be and long to feel as well. Let’s keep seeking…because we will find.
Love this post. And I too find in the most common of places.
Indeed it is such a blessing to discover our Savior and King, the One who is extraordinary can be found in the ordinary.
He can be found in both the ordinary and the extraordinary.
Kim, that photograph is gorgeous! And full of mystery, just like your subject here. I am so enjoying these Advent posts.
I’m glad you are enjoying….I’m enjoying finding Him, hidden and open everywhere.
Yeah, that drive, that intense motivation… thank you for reminding me of that, I should take inspiration and “pursue” God more.
I need to pursue Him more as well. Let’s do it together!
Your definition of epiphany. . . . my whole blog is directed toward the “epiphanies” that come in the ordinariness of simple life. How “he sees me” in all and when I look. . really “see”. . suddenly there is clarity. Epiphany. In dish water. In stars. No wonder you told me we are “kindred spirits.” Indeed we are.
I love the way that you tell of how the wisemen studied the stars. . “dust of heaven” as we are made of “dust”.
Beautiful comparison.
Love your words here kd. So glad to be over here tonight.
So fun that we’ve virtually met. I’m glad that you enjoyed this, and I’m looking forward to reading our work!
love how you call stars the dust of heaven, what we are made up of. a beautiful image friend.
Thanks Emily. I hope your Holyday season is filled with star dust!
Look at all these comments! Your readership must be growing.
This gave me goose-bumps, Kim. I must share it with my facebook friends.
Thank you Adela! I loved your last piece about your Christmas memories…made me smile…
From Advent to Epiphany…and we are Advent people, looking to the next appearing.
Yes! And there is so much to learn from the first coming in order to be ready for the second.
Wonderful … and thanks for sharing your journey of faith through your gift!
John says I was being a little Roddenberry!
…”tractor beam”- fascinating (he says, with upswept brow). Careful, my dear, your Roddenberry is peeking out just a bit. 😀
I love the style. “And what to get Him”? You’d be surprised at what things of much value mean little, and what things of little value mean much. (Okay, YOU wouldn’t be. 😉 )
Haha! You’ve got me! I was being a little Roddenberry here!
Loved it! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
You’re welcome Dolly. Thanks for your beautiful post as well.
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