Epiphany January 6, 2016

An epiphany (from the ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation, striking appearance") is an experience of sudden and striking realization. Generally the term is used to describe scientific breakthrough, religious or philosophical discoveries, but it can apply in any situation in which an enlightening realization allows a problem or situation to be understood from a new and deeper perspective. Epiphanies are studied by psychologists^[1][2] and other scholars, particularly those attempting to study the process of innovation.^[3][4][5]
Epiphanies are relatively rare occurrences and generally follow a process of significant thought about a problem. Often they are triggered by a new and key piece of information, but importantly, a depth of prior knowledge is required to allow the leap of understanding.^[3][4][6][7] Famous epiphanies include Archimedes's discovery of a method to determine the density of an object ("Eureka!") and Isaac Newton's realization that a falling apple and the orbiting moon are both pulled by the same force. (Wikepedia)
Epiphany, also known as "Three Kings Day" and "Twelfth Day," is a Christian holiday commemorated on January 6. It falls on the twelfth day after Christmas, and for some denominations signals the conclusion of the twelve days of the Christmas season. Though many different cultural and denominational customs are practiced, in general, the feast celebrates the manifestation of God in the form of human flesh through Jesus Christ, his Son.
The word epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation" and is commonly linked in Western Christianity with the visit of the wise men (Magi) to the Christ child. Through the Magi, Christ revealed himself to the gentiles. In Eastern Christianity, Epiphany puts emphasis on the baptism of Jesus by John, with Christ revealing himself to the world as God's own Son. Likewise, on Epiphany some denominations commemorate Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine, signifying the manifestation of Christ's divinity as well. (About Religion)
Have you ever thought about what Epiphany means to you. Both the secular understanding and the Christian understanding are parallels to meaning for me. The ancient Greek roots are especially interesting, ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation, striking appearance”. It is a sudden insight that just does not appear out of thin air but is a realization based on knowledge that we have and see in a new way.
Take Matthew 2 and the wise men. They were scholars of their time. They recognized before meeting Jesus, Mary and Joseph the significance of the star. Yet, they were not aware of the total picture until they arrived at Bethlehem. So we too are aware of the knowledge of our savior. Does the Natal Star shine in our lives? What is it we pursue? How do we take the knowledge we have about Christ and use that for epiphanies in our lives?
This year may be the challenge we face as to how we will live according to Christ. I would suggest thinking less about our resolutions and more about our faith. Increase your knowledge of God though bible study, small group participation, prayer, worship, and through receiving the sacraments.

January 4, 2016

I have been doing readings for an upcoming training that will happen at the end of the month. As I was reading, I began to reflect on some of the things that have occurred in the past year and carry over to this year. I remember (though I don’t recall where I had heard this) that history seems to repeat itself every 30-40 years. I decided to look back to the turning of the 20^th century and progress forwards, though I have thought about similarities in 1890’s and 1860’s. In 1920’s the end of the First World War to end all wars occurred right before the 1920’s. After the war, the League of Nations was formed. We as a nation did not join as we were beginning to pull away from world events and become more isolationists. How this affected the rise of Nazi Germany is debatable. It was also a time of excess, rise of criminal cartels, and fear. Eventually the crash of the stock market and the beginnings of the Great Depression happened.

1950’s often a time we look back on with fond memories without looking closely at what was actually happening. This was a time of Senator McCarthy and his crusade to rid the US of any communists. Based on fear, the standard thought was that there was a communist under every bed with the sole aim of destroying our nation. There were drills to what we were to do in case of an atomic bomb explosion and the building of fallout shelters (not the romantic image of the video game). 

1980’s were the height of the agricultural crisis and economic meltdown. Inflation was out of control and there were fears of foreclosures and bankruptcies. Arms deals made through financing of our government to support rebels in Afghanistan such as Osama Bin Laden. Recovery was difficult and many farmers and ranchers ended up taking their lives rather than face the loss of farmland and ranchland that had been in their families for several generations.

And now 2010’s the second decade of the 21^st century. The fears of terrorists mostly Muslims drive our politics. A new sense of McCarthyism is arising. Refusal to look at the domestic terrorists that exist in our nation is the standard. They are either insane or a militia who are patriotic. Children are not safe in our schools, on our streets, or even in our churches.

Maybe what is written in Ecclesiastes is right. There is nothing new under the sun. I wrote a poem/prose about this and attach below.

Spirals

Qohelet says

There is nothing new under the sun

I wondered about what he said

Do we endlessly repeat it all

Deja vu all over again

I ponder times in my life that have the same themes

I look back and see historic themes repeat

Fear seems to underlie them all.

Is that what Qohelet meant

Is that why Jesus tells us to not be afraid

Yet times do change

And life is not a circle

With no beginning or end.

Life is a spiral ancient symbol of life

There is a beginning and end

To my life and to creation as well

As in a spiral we come back to our themes

But in a different place, a different time

Seeking new answers to our questions

And so it goes

One more turn of the spiral

Coming ever closer to the end

The spiral is not to be feared

But to grow from the answers we learn

So what have we learned?

Will it be Déjà vu

The answer is up to me and you.

2016 Jan 1

Somewhere this morning, I decided to not only write in my blog but also reflect on the day and other random thoughts.  The first came out in rough form as a poem which I will share below.  Winter has had special meaning for me. It was around December 23 and 27 that our still births occurred.  Even though that was several years ago (actually more than two decades ago), the month often is a time of reflection on me especially dealing with darkness.  That this occurred during the darkest time of the year is not lost on me.
I marvel at that even with the darkness, comes light. It is the time of year that we celebrate our Savior’s birth.  Whether or not Jesus was born in December (and likely not) makes no difference.  What makes the difference is that in the darkness time of our lives, the light does not extinguish and will come out. It is in that promise that I hold on to during the darkness of winter.
Here is the poem. I am no Robert Frost or Carl Sandburg but here goes after 40 years of not writing.
1/1/15
Morning comes delayed as if fighting attempts to hold it back.
Bright sun burning away the gray of winter skies
Snow crystals sparkle with the reflected inner life.
Amidst winter’s monochrome of gray and with there remains the promise.  
In the landscape of dead trees, dull brown earth, the hint of new life remains
waiting to be reborn, renewed, and resurrected.
A new season to take the bleak colors waiting to burst forth into dazzling array of color.
Winter is but a brief time,
yet hidden in that time the promise is born.
The Star-Child comes once again
to remind that winter is but a moment
 and Spring comes to all.
So let the Son shine light the crystals sparkle
Let the Son shine show us the promise
that Winter will not be the final victor
the Son is.
Eldon Davis
Crude but came out of spending time under gray skies with either rain, snow and ice.  But today the sun shown and indeed the Son shines.