For Everyone

And we have arrived at Epiphany, a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of the Divine incarnate in Jesus the Christ. Western Christians honor the unveiling of the Christ child to the Magi from the east, which is the unveiling of Christ to the Gentiles. Eastern Christians take this day to celebrate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, which is also understood as the Christ being unveiled to all people.

This day is the celebration of the incarnate God revealed for all people, everywhere. No matter what people believe or don’t believe, whatever people’s back ground or ethnicity, the message is consistent and clear:

You are loved and you belong.

Some come about the message as star people, think the Magi, and some come about the message through the healing touch of the Divine. Some hear a spoken word, others experience the embrace of love and belonging as the doorway to the Divine. For others, it might be stumbled upon through dreams, a shared meal, a warm smile, or forgiveness and mercy offered by the most unexpected people. Within all of these experiences, we can hear the echo cascading into the deepest chambers of our heart…

“Surely the Divine is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

This is for everyone. Diversity assists us in discovering the deeper depths of the Divine.

Questions, doubts and debates help us uncover that which has been planted deepest within us, it’s simply been buried under the chaos and carnage of walking the way of the false self.

But today, today we celebrate that the Christ is revealed to everyone, everywhere. All are created in the Image of the Divine, and so we find the Father running down the street with arms extended. The Mother’s wings envelope the hurting and the homeless. Spirit whispers and shouts and sings for the soul that has ears to hear.

For thousands of years we have etchings, writings and piles of words all grasping at how best to communicate the transcendent Love of the Divine.

Irish philosopher and theologian Peter Rollins writes, “That which we cannot speak of is the one thing about whom and to whom we must never stop speaking.” His book, “How (Not) to Speak of God” explores and unpack this in his typical fun and mind bending style.

And this is why I write, because I have to. The ache and undulation within me demands expression, so I write and type and talk… a lot.

Somewhere there is someone who might read or hear, which could lead to their heart bending and bursting into…

“Surely the Divine is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

And again we’ll celebrate the revealing of the Divine through Incarnation. And these parties should be the absolute best parties, so please don’t give me a stale ham bun with a side of aunt Lucy’s weird potato salad. This deserves our best and biggest giddy up, because this is an invitation to…

Everyone, everywhere.

Welcome to Epiphany. Welcome home.