An epiphany of Joy
Epiphany sky
Epiphany is one of my favourite words and it has a day named after it. January 6, marks Epiphany, often known as the revelation to the Wise men to follow the star to Bethlehem. The light guided them to Bethlehem, where prophesy was fulfilled, the Light of the world, the Christ child, came to be among us. And so we remember, as we celebrate these last days of Christmas.
Of course most of us have moved on; Christmas now a memory. We have entered back into routines, taken down the decorations, and if you are living in my neck of the woods, knee deep in snow storms. And we continue to live with much uncertainty and carefulness as we navigate the storm of Omicron.
Epiphany means a revelation. According to Webster, It is known as Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ.
It is also known as a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way.
epiphany joy
Opening our eyes to see the holy, to experience God in a fresh new way, to come to new understanding, this can be epiphany.
Part of epiphany for me each year is to choose a word to focus on, to live by, for the coming year. Last blog, I revealed my word was JOY, which was a surprise to me. But there it was, showing up all over the place and making me smile.
As I’ve read verses and sang songs, it just keeps coming up, a welcome companion to start this year.
It showed up on a Facebook post, a poem by Hafiz, posted by a friend, and it was too good not to share:
I sometimes forget
that I was created for Joy.
My mind is too busy.
My Heart is too heavy
for me to remember
that I have been
called to dance
the Sacred dance of life.
I was created to smile
To Love
To be lifted up
And to lift others up.
O’ Sacred One
Untangle my feet
from all that ensnares.
Free my soul.
That we might
Dance
and that our dancing
might be contagious.
~Hafiz
Isn’t that inspiring? In spite of all that swirls around us, we are free to choose joy. And I am embracing this for 2022.
What is your word for the year? I hope it will come to you, as a gift to live out in the days ahead.
Joy in Unexpected places
