It’s January 8th in the new year of 2012. Have you had an epiphany yet?
The ancient word “epiphany” comes from the Greek meaning “to show forth.” Like a light appearing in a dark room. In more recent usage, some have likened epiphany to the “aha moment” when an idea suddenly occurs to us, like a light bulb appearing in our minds.
An epiphany comes when we least expect it. It’s a surprise. A gift.
Writing about the feast of the Epiphany in his daily e-newsletter, Fr. Richard Rohr says that it is about seeing with wonder. The Magi who followed a star to find the newborn king were “questing in wonder.” What they found was a mother and father and their baby, huddled in a humble manager.
As a new year opens, what star are you following?
An epiphany can be a very small, ordinary thing. On twitter this morning, South African artist Laureen Raftopulos wrote: “Live in the moment by becoming fully aware of the beauty in the smallest of things around you.”
That’s a good mantra for living epiphany.
Posted by Terrence Seamon on Sunday January 8, 2012