the light has come . . . 12th night and epiphany in santa cruz

the writer of isaiah says, "arise . . . shine . . . your light has come!"

and so the light has come . . . . on the 12th day of christmas (yesterday), 12 drummers drumming could be heard in santa cruz at 5 in the morning by way of a thunder and lightening rain storm . . . . it was glorious!

but what is a pastor to do in order to secure my virgin health miles for the day?  i have been walking in the rain with my umbrella, but that seemed slightly foolish in a thunder storm!

then i remembered that i have been granted keys(!) -- not to the kin-dom -- but to the united methodist church of santa cruz . . . .where i can walk in the sanctuary and fellowship hall without getting wet!

so, away i went!  i turned on the tree, to celebrate 12th night (during the cold morning hours) knowing that a crew would be over to change-out the season . . . . christmas would be over in just a few hours!

BUT, the light isaiah spoke about would remain.  and so it does on this epiphany day!

epiphany was the time when the magi visited baby jesus, bringing gifts.  in orthodox tradition, this is the day when gifts are exchanged!  by this day, most trees are down, and stores are filled with valentine's candy and in some places chocolate easter eggs are already present!  the commercial christmas is SO OVER!

yet the light of epiphany is a reminder that the light shines and cannot be put out -- or even dampened by a storm!  celebrating epiphany is an "ah-ha moment" when we realize something important, invaluable, and coveted is happening!  that moment this year came to me as i was able to once again walk in my neighborhood this epiphany morning; the rain had stopped, and no more thunder and lightening for the moment.  out of the cloudy sky emerged a little thumb-nail of the new moon, and the sight of a planet flickering -- just like the lights that flickered on our tree during the christmas season. 

even though the lights were put away by a church crew of elves yesterday morning, the light still shines!  what a reminder that god-is-still-with-us indeed! 

so let it rain once again (PLEASE!) . . . the light will still shine, no matter what!