Yesterday was the day of Epiphany, 'Epiphany' comes from the Greek word meaning 'to reveal' and in the context of the Christian tradition, it refers to God being revealed, in the form of Jesus to the Magi.
And as I spent time thinking about what this means, I was struck by this: the revealing requires a receptiveness, an openness to seeing and noticing. Discovering and finding that which has always been there.
And I realised that this has been my life experience. I have been recognising God (The life force, Origin, Loving presence, Or whatever holds true for you) for as long as I can remember. In the unfurling of the ferns, the smell of pine trees after rain, the sounds of a thunderstorm, the rising and setting of the sun, the touch of the wind and of people, the animals I have encountered, breathtaking scenery, music and song, words on a page and a myriad other ways. I have increasingly become aware of being part of something magnificent, indescribable and mystical. So I will not try to put it into clumsy words.
But this noticing has awakened in me a longing for more, to continue on the path of discovery, to keep my eyes wide open as I journey through my days here and to hold these impressions, thoughts and images close to my heart.
Recently, however, I have felt an overwhelming desire to share this and myself with those closest to me, in the hopes that it stirs something: hope, beauty, peace, love, or even hunger and curiosity. And I have wanted to be known in ways that are new to me.
This desire has led me to this time and place, putting my awkward words on paper and hoping it resonates, inspires, reveals and comforts.
A week ago, as 2023 was drawing to a close and I sat with gratitude for the experiences, encounters and lessons in what was a very difficult year, I wondered what my biggest take away was. What could I carry with me into 2023, that will shine a light and remind me that I am not alone on this journey. And the baseline thrum I felt was gratitude for TIME.
I have never experienced the true beauty of time before, its sheer transformative power. As I write this, time is working its magic in the northern hemisphere and the days are growing longer and brighter. Time is transforming the coffee grounds in my cafetiere into the fragrant offering of my morning coffee. Time is the companion of my days and nights, it has always been. I see its passage in the faces of my children, who were babies just yesterday and have metamorphosed into remarkable human beings, so full of life and potential, forging their way in this world. Time is required for the seasons to change, for healing to become fully tangible, for longing to grow and hopes fulfilled.
And the flip side of this gratitude for time, is living a patient life. Not striving, rushing, forcing, but waiting, watching and discovering.
As so often happens, I spent hours thinking about what I wanted to say, forming sentences in my mind and being sure I would find just the right words when I sat down to write. And yet, this stream of consciousness falls short of capturing those fleeting thoughts and phrases. But I am content. I don’t need to trap all my thoughts and hold them fast. Whatever you may see of me through these words will only ever be a glimpse into my heart. But I invite you in and welcome your presence as we wait patiently for time to work its magic.
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