Epiphany in the liturgical sense refers to the Wise Men visiting baby Jesus—January 6 on the calendar (the twelfth day of Christmas). When we use the word, we usually mean an aha moment of illumination or deeper meaning. It’s important to remember that epiphanies typically follow intense thought or effort.

I put away Christmas decorations on the Day of Epiphany. It’s a way to delay taking apart what took so long to get in place, because it’s never as much fun toting all that stuff back to the attic. Declaring a certain day to dismantle things and pairing it with a day of heightened meaning makes the work feel less work-like and more ceremonial. At least that’s my goal.

But I want, no, I expect this year’s Day of Epiphany to be one that I acknowledge and feel in my faith and experience in the philosophical sense, too. I will search for the divine in the ordinary. Not in a looking-for-Jesus-in-the-cereal-bowl sort of way (and not posting a photo on Facebook if I happen to see a likeness). I want an electrifying epiphany that knocks the blinders off my eyes and opens up new realities that seem incomprehensible, unfathomable, and impossible today.

That’s asking a lot, right? But what if not asking is why we don’t manifest miracle-size epiphanies as often as we should (or ever)? Do we expect better? Do we believe…or are we skeptics and scoffers—or just too tired or disenchanted to care anymore? Do we ask big-picture questions and work to find that last, crucial puzzle piece that will make the whole scene clear? Let’s believe. And as Dewarren Carter reminds us (page 8), our past doesn’t determine our future when we alter our mindsets, actions, and habits.

What if we went to sleep tonight expecting to have an epiphany in the morning? What might we dream or God nudge in us that could open our hearts to new visions? And what if we understand that we might have to make the journey for the epiphany to take place? After all, the Wise Men knew Jesus wouldn’t come to them; they made the trip to discover him. And they made the trip believing they would find the divine manifestation—why else would they have toted those heavy gifts all that way?

So here’s my 2012 challenge: Start believing in miracle-size epiphanies; sometimes they’ll just appear, literally or philosophically. And start seeking them—look for the star and dare to set out after it. In doing so, we may make, meet, and create the most glorious discoveries this side of eternity.

With anticipation,
Emily-Sarah Lineback

wsmonthly@mediageneral.com