Epiphanies

None of us are in control or in charge of The Great Mystery. Those who pretend to understand eventually wonder how they got into the trouble and misery they find themselves in. They struggle with regret when no amount can change the past. They become anxious about the future when only gratitude can change the present.

Many of us are grateful for the gifts visited upon us by many others. We often mark their presence with birthday celebrations. The mailbox recently received birthday's notices that included from yesterday those of J.D. Salinger, and E.M. Forester; and last week: Patti Smith (poet, punk rocker (Horses), and National Book Award winner (Just Kids)); Douglas Coupland (Generation X); and Rudyard Kipling. Cousins such as these are forever sharing epiphanies of intimacy, communion, and surrender.

The Western Xian biblical tradition of this season contains, symbolic of all of us, the narrative of “three wise men” who traveled long distances from their native religion and country to fittingly bow down before an unknown Mystery. The Mystery, if we can remain open to it, always leads to another Epiphany — (after Richard Rohr and Cynthia Bourgeault).