Do you like to travel? You all probably know that Norio and I travel a lot, and love almost any mode of travel. In 2008 - between us - we went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cuba, Japan, and the eastern US. Some of those trips were by land, some were by air, and some by sea. In 2009 we went to Panama, Colombia, the western Caribbean, Japan, Cuba, and the eastern provinces of Canada. Once again it was by land, sea, and air. Norio has just returned from yet another trip to Japan, and I am just preparing to go to the western Caribbean. We don’t seem to get tired of it. I’d say the only thing is we don’t get to spend nearly long enough in any one place, and always see just enough to make us want to go back and explore some more.
The first time I travelled was as a three-year old, moving from one town in Saskatchewan to another. Then, as a four-year-old, to yet another town in the northern parts of Saskatchewan; then as a 12yr old to Winnipeg, and as a 24 yr old to Japan - and of course on to Viet Nam, Australia and the US.
I suspect that travel is something which gets into the blood - especially for those of us who were children of ministers, where moving was a part of life all the time. I still feel a little sorry for my childhood friends, who have never left the home where they were born, never seen another part of even this country. They always comment on how busy Norio and I are, how do we manage it. The notion of travelling to other places frightens them.
Travelling, even going somewhere for just a few hours, changes us if we have our eyes, ears, and senses open. Last January, I went to a city in Colombia - Cartagena de Indias - for just a few hours - but in that time I saw the Museum of the Inquisition and heard tales of Spanish torture; saw a church where Jesuit priests who defended the indigenous peoples were slaughtered; and heard stories about the heroics of some of those priests. I saw enough of Colombia to be changed by the experience, and to want to go back again and learn more.
In Panama, I saw a country struggling to modernise itself - building everywhere - and heard the pride of people who now have control of their own destiny. They have a vision for their country, and are working to make it happen. If we are open to seeing, even such a short time can change us, because it changes how we see our own lives as well.
As we come into a new year, - 2010 - what is it which leads us as a congregation? What are the ideas, hopes, plans which may be born in us today? What ideas to we want to honour and worship? What is our potential for life in the future??? What makes us look up, look forward, step out on the road? There are many churches whose primary goal is keeping the doors open. I’ve served a couple of them. That is their star. They will follow that star with enthusiasm until either the church closes, or, until they realise that God has many bright lights which can lead s journey.
What about spiritual growth? Being a caring community, lively community of faith? What about faith exploration with young and old together? What about pastoral care and outreach being done by this congregation? If we can get ourselves out of “survival” mode, and spend more time focusing on what we are being called to be and to do now, where would the journey take us? Who else might be drawn to the light?
When the magi left their home countries, heading for Judea, they were not tourists, not on a trip to have some fun, or to get away from a cold Canadian winter. They believed their journey had a purpose of incredible importance. But stars don’t always shine in clear skies, and a trip following a star using hand-held instruments is full of danger. They were following a brilliant light, some of the time, but it was far away and not always reliable. They wanted to follow the way that they were being shown, even though they did not have a clear idea of where it would take them, but sometimes they could not see the way at all, and had to stop and ask for directions.
It sounds an awful lot like where we often find ourselves, doesn't it? We have some idea of where we would like to go as we look to the future. We know what kind of changes would make our lives better, and our world better, but we have no clear idea of how to get there. That is the part which frustrates us - because we are so used to having clear ideas about everything - that letting go and trusting even if we don’t see ready answers is the hardest thing to do.
And in the middle of all of this, Jesus is born; he is on a journey himself, growing up as a child of oppression, through pain and joy, being led by a light, and striving to teach people around him about what God is doing in the world. He trusted; he had questions, but he trusted God. We have to trust that the light which leads us will help us to set life-giving priorities. We have to resist being deterred when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory, and on a journey which asks us to search even we cannot see completely clearly.
The magi didn’t know how the story ended - and in fact for them it didn’t end. They met Herod, and with a flash of insight knew that was not the way to go; they found the child, and knew they had found something special; and at the end they knew they could not return home the same way. They didn’t spend years in Egypt and then go home. If the story is true, they were in one place briefly - Matthew says the found the house where Jesus was, and offered their gifts. They might have stayed overnight, or a couple of days. Yet their lives were completely changed by the experience.
Throughout Advent, through Christmas, and into Epiphany we travel a road - to a town where Jesus was born, and then on into Egypt. We try, in this short season, to find new insight; to learn new things about ourselves and our faith. Today, with the Magi, we come to the house and find the child. We offer our gifts, and we leave again on the journey, trusting that God is with us.
Sources: With material from Rev. Tim Dayfoot, Orono Pastoral Charge, Ontario.
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