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Guest author: Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv
Seeking God
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"The Magi Journeying" by James Tissot
What can we learn about spiritual direction from the Western Christian feast day of Epiphany, celebrated on January 6? Three wise seekers follow a star; they travel with spiritual companions. They do not know quite what they are searching for. They trust the journey.
The feast day of Epiphany enlightens the global human story of spiritual direction—the Magi model how to seek God.
Most Epiphany illustrations show three wise men at night, with a brilliant star to guide them. In the painting, “The Magi Journeying,” James Tissot captures a different glimpse of the wise men’s trek. Tissot invites us to experience their journey in the harsh daytime heat of the desert.
Look into the faces of the people in the Tissot painting. What questions do the seekers invoke that may be helpful in your new year of spiritual direction? Here are some questions to ponder:
- How did the three wise men recognize God in the baby they found in Bethlehem?
- Who are all the people on camels and on foot following for miles through barren terrain?
- During the stark, rocky, daylight hours, with no visible star to guide them, what spiritual practices helped this community get along? What gave sustenance for the journey and prepared them for God’s revelation?
These questions are great spiritual direction discernments for today.
Epiphany has its roots in the Greek verb epiphaneia, "to appear," and also means "appearance" or "manifestation." Today, we say we had an epiphany when, “Aha! I see what I hadn’t seen before.” Something is revealed that changes our perspective, and sometimes, an epiphany is so profound it changes everything.
Staring at the painting, you may have an epiphany: Imagine the three Magi are traveling through time, with us among the followers in the long human tradition of seeking God. Another interpretation: Imagine the three wise men as paradoxically not-yet and eternally-always finding God, who is outside the frame of the painting, right in front of them, perhaps even in the childlike innocence and love of the viewers’ eyes and hearts.
The Magi recognized God in their midst and celebrated their discovery by reverencing the Christ with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Seeking and finding God changed everything.
In a recent Christian Century article, Amy Frykholm writes about “the spiritual direction movement.” Thank you for being part of the spiritual direction global movement. Around the world and across traditions, seeking and finding God is changing everything. Can you see it?
Reflection
How do you recognize God in your midst? How is spiritual direction changing you and the people with whom you companion? Share your stories here.
01/22,2012, at 20:20
Dear Liz & friends of SDI: Loved the picture of the Magi, from a different perspective. Your thoughts were meaningful and in response, I wanted to share a reflection I wrote for a small local paper distributed to seniors. I serve as the Spiritual Dir. for LifeCircles, a PACE (Providing All-inclusive health Care to the Elderly) program (located in Muskegon, MI. "We are now past the winter solstice, which occurs about December 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. I do not remember when I became aware of the word, solstice, but I do remember as a teenager walking home from a friend’s house in the evening, in the winter, in the dark. A solstice occurs two times in the year when the sun is at the greatest distance from the equator. It is at this time that we experience either the longest day or the shortest day of the year. This fact in the created order is indeed a turning point. Many people around the globe celebrate the visitation of the Magi (Wise men) in Bethlehem - on January 6th. The significance of this event gets lost due to the focus of holiday gift-giving on or around December 25th and the wonder of the manger. The arrival of the Magi is a huge turning point. The light and love of God became manifest to people from a far off country. These travelers from the East took a long and difficult journey to follow what for them was a sign, a star that led them to discover truth in a surprising and meaningful way. This was a turning point that changed their lives. Through a dream, these men discerned they should not return to Herod and left for their own country by another road (Matthew chapter 2). Have you experienced a turning point in your spiritual journey? What are you seeking now? How do you find discernment; the kind that can help you avoid danger? In your prayers, ask God to teach you what you should be seeking." (from the Jan-Feb issue of "Senior Perspectives") Grace and peace, Gil