Advent is over. The Christ candle is now lit. The promise of deliverance has been fulfilled. The twelve days of Christmastide commence. As we turn towards Epiphany, I ask, what epiphanies did you experience this year? 2023 was a year of first and lasts and quite a few changes for our family. 2024 looks to be just as interesting and frankly uncertain.

Is it ironic that we celebrate the search for the promised Christ by the Wisemen twelve days after Christmas Day? I think not. Our journey isn’t over, in fact, it begins anew. I once participated in a Bible study in which we were encouraged to draw how we saw our journey. A dear friend of great faith and wisdom drew a corkscrew. It was an epiphany for many of us. While our life is cyclical and we experience so many of our challenges over and over again, we are forever moving forward. I frequently think of my friend’s description and am comforted by her image.

As we journey together through a new calendar year, resolutions, affirmations, whatever we choose to call them, I take comfort in the fact that life will change—for everyone—because only we can make change. The changes may be subtle or they may be cosmic. Like the Wisemen, we respond to events beyond our control and reshape our journey accordingly.

Our Christmas Eve message on Sunday was about how to be the change. We are called to look inside our hearts and minds and use all the beautiful amazing talents and gifts freely given to us by the Creator and use them for change. We are the good. We are the light. We bring hope.

I am on the uncertain, challenging, wild journey here on earth with you dear ones. I’ve got you. One day, one hour, one epiphany at a time.

Love Y’all, Marla