Happy Epiphany!

                Today marks the last day of the Christmas season and the day that we celebrate the coming of the Magi (aka: Three wise guys). For some, this day means it’s time to finally take down the Christmas decorations. For others, this day is a chance to recapture the Christmas spirit one more time and go out with a bang! Many people actually give more gifts on this day to symbolizes the gifts  that Jesus received.  If you would like to carry on that tradition, I am available to help…..just saying.

                However you observe this day, Epiphany literally means “appearances” or “revelations”.  To put it another way, this is the day to look for God to surprise you with a glimpse of Himself. It is the day to remember that God shows up in the most unlikely of ways and lets us know that we are not alone in this big world.

                I like Epiphany because it gives me a chance to reflect on all the ways that God has surprised me over the years. It also invites me to be a part of Gods desire to surprise others. In a few minutes, I will be officiating a funeral for a family that is largely un-churched.  As I stand before them, in their grief, I wonder how I might help them experience an epiphany of God’s love and Grace. This may be a perfect time for God to show up unannounced in their life…and mine.

                So, what are you going to do this Epiphany?

                Surprise someone with a gift of Joy?

                Look for God in a strange place?

                Or, live your life as normal as you can?

Be warned, on this day God may just show up in the ordinary and say,   “Peek- a -BOO!”