We’ve all expended a lot of time, money and energy over the past weeks preparing, enjoying and recuperating from our Christmas celebrations. For what?
All the hubbub of the past few weeks only impacts our lives if we carry the meaning and spirit into the future. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could carry on the Spirit of the Season all year long, offering warm wishes and glad tidings to all we encounter But how?
In the Christian tradition, the Christmas message is based on 3 tenets similar to the 3 legs on a stool. The Spirit rests on the support of Advent (the waiting), Christmas (the Divine Indwelling), and the Epiphany (the coming of the Wise Men).
As we are busy packing up the Christmas decorations, we cannot lose sight of the message of the Wise Men. The Wise Men sought out the birth following the light of the star. Like the Wise Men we must continue to search and seek out the Divine in our daily lives in this upcoming New Year?
But where in this crazy world do we find God living amongst us?
I’ll liken my big “Christmas learning” as “Finding Waldo”. Reading that children’s book, “Where’s Waldo”, we are invited to search for Waldo in a field of distractions. Waldo is disguised, blending into the background of ordinary pictures. After picking our way through the maze of distractions, we joyfully declare, “there he is”, when we finally identify our man, Waldo.
Like looking for Waldo in an array of color, lines and images, we seek God amongst our everyday lives.
We have to keep our eyes and hearts on alert to identify God masquerading in our daily routines asking ourselves, what is God inviting me to learn, to give or experience during this particular event?
God isn’t going to pop off the page of life. We still need to take an active part to keep up our part of the relationship.
As we enter this New Year let’s adopt the intention of seeking God in each situation that arises. Our search will definitely lead us to new growth and understanding filled with joy and happiness.
That first Christmas the three Wise men followed the star leading them to Emmanuel. Wise men and women will still seek him today. Do you?
