"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking:"Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." Matthew 2:1-12

What star are you following? In our worshiping community we have been asking one another this question and will continue to do so during this season of Epiphany. Epiphany…an appearance or manifestation of God…the revelation of Christ in our midst…..a moment of sudden intuitive understanding…a flash of insight, says Webster. Epiphany….a realization that the Holy One is indeed all mixed up, at the center of, our very living, our one and only life….says I.

I don’t know about you but I often am blinded by lights that are not so helpful in my life. Success. Things I can buy. Power. Control. Greed. Economic security. Self-centeredness. To name only a few. I can hitch my dreams to any of those stars and follow until I am all used up.   When I am busy being led by those light beams, I am often unable to see the revelation of God that walks with me, that wrestles with me, that nudges me to wake up, to see.

It’s important, I think, to take stock of what stars we follow or we can be led into places that can keep us from the rich experiences of being awake to the sacred. The magi can be metaphor for us of the wise, yet humble, ones who put aside what they knew, personal comfort, common sense, all to follow a star that led them to a deeper understanding of how God breaks into the world."They set out and there ahead of them went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy."

So, what star are you following? My prayer is that the star that leads you will bring you to a place, a flash of insight, an Epiphany, that will find you standing, looking up to the heavens, overwhelmed with joy.

"Every man, plant and creature in Existence, Every woman, child, vein and note is a servant of our Beloved-a harbinger of joy, the harbinger of Light."   Hafiz