The beautiful Christmas story features, among its entire cast of characters, three wise men known as Kings from the east, who brought expensive gifts to the newborn child and fell down to worship him as did all those who came to the stable cave.  What is awesome about their appearance on the scene is that first they journeyed through Jerusalem and sought to learn the whereabouts of the “King of the Jews”.  After being manipulated by Herod, they went on the short distance to Bethlehem and found Him with His mother Mary and Joseph. 

Something told them Herod’s inquiry and invitation to share the “good news” with him, was about as fake as a two-dollar bill.  So they decided to return home by another route.

Was it intuition or heightened discernment that told them to avoid Jerusalem and Herod at all costs?  Were they wise because they paid attention to their ‘gut’ or were they simply known as “wise men” in the land from which they came?

For our purposes here, I think they were ‘learned’ men from the East who studied the stars and ancient manuscripts and knew something big was coming.  I think they were ‘wise’ when they listened to the ‘inner nudge’ that told them “go home another way!”

Now more than 2000 years later, we celebrate another season of commemoration of the birthday of the King.  We’ll hear the story told over and over again and yes, we’ll celebrate epiphany which traditionally coincides with the visit of the wise men.  We’ll hear the familiar Scripture and marvel at these learned men who traveled dangerous routes to finally visit a cave with smelly animals, indigent shepherds, drummer boys and the “King of the Jews” who is Christ the Lord!

As we celebrate this wonderful day with family and friends; let’s remember that the wise men represent all of us who have traveled from far off places to end at the stable cave.  We’ve brought all we have, the entirety of who we are and given it as the only gift we have. 

And somewhere in the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds, we know that we’ve encountered the wisdom of the ages who is Christ the Lord.  And while we may have arrived in a ‘learned’ state; we depart with a new vision and perspective.  We are no longer simply knowledgeable.  We have encountered wisdom and accepted it as our own.

As we turn to travel home; let us be intuitive about what we now know.  Let us be trusting of deep longing and pressing vision flowing from our intuition.

Let the wisdom we’ve gained go before us as we travel a new and different route knowing that we shall never be quite the same again.

Let wisdom be your guide and love light your way!

   Linda