Epiphany 2012 :: Follow the Star

Ah, the last of the Christmas season holidays came and nearly went yesterday, and in the excitement of company in town ("Trevor's here! Trevor's here" - I'm assuming that even readers across the country could hear the chanted enthusiasm when our favorite "uncle" arrived) and a long play date, I very nearly forgot to celebrate it! It would have been a shame, because I love Epiphany - January 6th - the day we celebrate the "wise men" or magi who followed the star until the found the Christ Child to worship and adore. This year it was the simplest possible celebration. I had made a few stars and crowns to put on the mantel, and baked up our annual favorite, Kings Cake. This sweet bread loaf (made with three gifts inside - not gold, frankincense or myrrh, but with cranberries, almonds and orange zest) is shaped into a crown, one little nob for each person present. Inside one of the buns is a pewter heart, and whoever gets that magical piece (and doesn't break a tooth) is king for the evening. Tonight we had not only our special Plus One at the table, but a play date gone wonderfully long. And what a surprise that Sterling's buddy found the heart! He's a good sport, posing for this photo happy mum.
                     


 As I was thinking about it afterwards, lamenting all the "celebrations" I didn't manage to pull off this day (making kite paper window stars, folding little star votive holders - oh the things I can find to match a celebration!), I was struck by the reasons why I didn't have time... I was busy keeping school on track, and having a good conversation with the other adults, and, hopefully, loving on the kids and their friends as they played. Each thing we do each day supports or squeezes out something else. It's all a matter of priorities, and, happily, the right things won out today. The Wise Men saw and heard and learned many things. Having hearts eager for knowledge and wisdom, searching for something or someone to worship, they were prepared to leave all to follow a star, away from their scheduled plans, until they found a baby. They came to a full stop, and worshipped him. There was time after that for all the plans. Or maybe those plans didn't seem so important in light of what they'd experienced, and life took a new turn. Who's to say? For me, I'm trying to stay sensitive to following the star of the most important, rather than the tyranny of my to-do list, or my well laid plans.