Epiphany-- who are we looking for?

Joyous Epiphany!

While this is a religious holiday, one where the Wise Men found their way to the stable and presented their symbolic gifts to the baby Jesus, I am also hopeful that we can see the face of the Christ Child in each other, daily. 

A big ask, I know. 

I am just as fallible as the next person; I judge too quickly sometimes. I shy away from strangers. I shrink into myself in crowds, and try not to be seen. But in my interactions with others, I hope I am at least obviously friendly. I need to be more-so, and it's hard. My nature is introverted-- which is why it's entirely strange I chose a public profession like teaching to hang my hat on. Well, I didn't quite choose it, not initially-- my mother "strongly suggested" I ought to have a marketable skill, because I would not be able to make a living as, well, anything else. In short, she said, "no one will ever pay you to read books." That kind of squashed my whole book editor dream flat. My introverted self would have loved that.

That said, and I do digress, can we go forth each day a little more welcoming, a little more open to making new friends and acquaintances? I think we should-- I should-- and it's not an easy thing. Making eye contact is never easy, and it's not about the other person so much as it's about how we feel about ourselves at that moment. Is my hair weird? Am I dressed the part? Am I too fat, clumsy, whatever? If I open my mouth to speak, will people laugh? I spent a lot of my growing up years (and much of my professional life) being looked askance at for using "twenty dollar words." So-- shyness is partly nature, and probably a lot more of it is conditioned. 

But we are told that God lives in each of us, that we are created in his image, male and female both. And if we are children of God, then we ought to be able to recognize the essence of deity in each other. Sometimes it may take a second look, but it's in there. 

In Greek, epiphany means a revealing; may God reveal himself in all of us. It will take being more patient, more honest, and more open-- a risk, to be sure. But I suspect it'll be worth it.

Have a good day,

C