Lessons from the Wise

So much of their journey relied upon faith. To believe in the light of a star,

to see it as a sign to pack up and go. To be so enamored by this great pull,

this yearning that they bundled up gifts and headed out

without certainty that any of it meant a thing.

So much of their journey relied upon imagination.

Envisioning something holy

was within their reach.

Something bigger than themselves, greater than what they read in books,

what they said they knew.

To be so swept up in the adventure that they left everything

to search for what they did not understand, but ultimately had to see.

So much of their journey relied upon persistence. To go through kings and government to find the babe, to dismiss the disappointment and embrace the surprise that it wasn’t quite what they expected.

He wasn’t quite the royalty they sought; but they worshipped him anyway.

They followed through with their truth and did not turn away.

So much of their journey relied upon courage. To pay attention to dreams and heed their warnings. To put aside the maps and plans and take a different path, walk in a new way,

along an unknown road.

They were willing to travel in mystery.

The journey of this life is never what you think.

Stars leading to stables

the Divine showing up in the least expected place

a dream sending us on paths we had not counted on.

But if we are willing to be wise like these visitors to God’s birth

then we go when we are called.

We bundle our gifts and we go,

with faith and imagination, with persistence and courage.

We go with friends, looking out for each other, and we go

expecting nothing and coming home with everything.

So much of our journey relies upon our

willingness to go beyond what we see,

putting aside what we know, opening ourselves

to new ways of finding God,

different paths to travel,

acceptance of what meets us at arrival

and the belief in the great promises that we have

all that we need to go

to where it is

we are meant to be.

Travel in light, my friends.

You are the light of the world!

Warmly,

Lynne

The Service of Lament is now monthly. First Thursday of the month, next service is January 4, 2024

Service of Lament, First Thursday of the month at Noon

First Presbyterian Church Chapel (Park on North side of Church)

215 Locust Street NE

Albuquerque, NM 87102