Beck column: On the Epiphany
Published 12:00 am Friday, January 7, 2011
While writing ěThe Purpose of Christmasî in December, this story came to mind to use on or around January 6. I grew up in a little Baptist country church where the Christmas story was read to us mostly from the gospel of Luke. As little children, we learned verses and spoke in front of the congregation before the adults portrayed the birth of Christ.
This was always what Christmas meant to me because of the reverence of the candles, music and rendition of the birth of Christ. Christmas was not a big deal at home because my parents sent us to church; they did not go, read the Bible, or discuss the birth of Christ with us. I have just been reminded in recent months that my stepsister, Ethel, had to beseech my mother to take me and my siblings to church.
As Iíve shared in speeches and other stories, church became my home away from home, and up until I moved away when I got married, church was the highlight of my life at least three times a week and various other celebrationsÖ like my acceptance of Christ as my savior and my baptism in the river when I was about 12 years old.
Once I wrote a story about how disappointed I was at that age when all I got for Christmas was a little King James Bible; I also wrote about the Christmas when someone had given me the most beautiful hand-me-down dress. It had net and sequins on top of a taffeta skirt. That was the night of the Christmas pageant when the wire on my teacherís notebook caught on the net and dragged along behind me up to the stage. When the audience laughed, I got so upset that I started crying.
That was when I decided that unless I was forced to, I would never speak in public again. The only other time I remember is when I had to play an angel in a school program. Folks said my wings (arms) were flapping so bad that it looked like I might fly away. (Who would ever have thought I would end up traveling and speaking in public for the Lord?)
Well, back to the season of the EpiphanyÖthe arrival of the three wise men was always shown at the stable with the shepherds, and anytime we see a nativity scene, the wise men are there. I didnít know until I started reading the Bible as an adult that the wise men arrived later at the house:
Matthew 2:11: ěOn coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.î
The Christmas after my husband passed away, my brother Michael and I went with our church to the beautiful Christmas pageant in North Spartanburg. I had never seen a pageant of quite that magnitude. It was so beautiful and inspirational! It was also the first portrayal I had ever seen of the wise men arriving when Jesus was about 2 years old ěat the house.î
When Mary and Joseph came out carrying a handsome little 2-year-old boy, I was amazed and very surprised. Also, since I was still grieving and physically in terrible shape when a crippled man hobbled on a crutch down the aisle, I was overwhelmed as he fell at Jesusí feet.
Mike and I exchanged glances and I leaned over to him and said, ěSo Jesus can use crippled people, too.î Both of us started sobbing and I knew then that God would use me in some way, large or small; he would not allow me at age 46 to do nothing and grieve the rest of my life.
I did not remember ever being taught about the Epiphany. I believe I first learned that word from one of my friends, Judy, whose Episcopalian church celebrated with a service on January 6. And then, of course, being as curious as a cat, I had to study and learn more about how the wise men did not really visit Jesus at the stable.
The Epiphany is a Christian holiday and a celebration of the arrival of the wise men and the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles. The wise men or magi who brought gifts to the Christ child were the first gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as ěKingî and so were the first to ěshowî or ěrevealî Jesus to a wide world as the incarnate Christ. (Iím finally borrowing some information from the internet.) This is celebrated as the twelve days after Christmas and some churches hold ětwelfth nightî services.
When I purchased my first nativity set at an after-Christmas sale, I started setting the wise men and camels back from the stable to indicate the distance they traveled (well, when my table was large enough anyway).
In December 2009, my friend Lou got the nativity set down from a high shelf and as we began to unwrap the characters, every one of them except Baby Jesus had been broken in one or more pieces. Someone must have knocked the box off the shelf at some time and did not realize what was in the box.
I was devastated and my sweet friend took it home with her and within a week she had glued it all back together and one can barely tell it was broken. I was reminded once again even when our lives are broken in pieces God can do a wonderful repair job by sending angels like Lou and Judy into my life.
This year I did not put up a tree or any decorations except for the nativity and my Christmas snow globes. My family was disappointed, but on Christmas Eve I donít think we really missed the tree. As my grandchildren grow, the room gets smaller and I get older and have less energy for decorating. I would have missed my nativity set, however.
I wanted my family to think more about Jesus and the real ěreason for the season.î This year I believe I will leave the nativity set out until after Jan. 6 and give more thought to how far the wise men traveled to see Jesus and how long it took to reach the house where he was being raised.
The word epiphany means ěa sudden realization of great truth,î and I was reminded of the invitations Iíve received asking me to travel some far distances to speak for Christian womenís clubs.
But I will wait to see where Iím invited and pray that God will reply ěgo,î ěstay,î or ětoo far away.î Iím 63 years old now and for what time I have left on this earth I want to keep service to him first.
I know he has already forgiven me for those years when other people and places came first. I want to share with others how important God and his word is to me. To him be the glory forever and ever!
Linda Beck is available to speak at churches and civic group and can be reached at 704-278-9355 or lindainthecards@gmail.com.