Dear friends, we've been greeting each other with "Merry Christmas," then, "Happy New Year." But the season doesn't end with New Year's, but with Epiphany, January 6, the 12th day of Christmas. "Epiphany" means "revelation", and in the church it refers to the revelation of the baby Jesus to the Magi as king of the Jews. 2,000 years ago those stalwart fellows traveled many miles, following a bright star, which they believed from Old Testament prophesies to signify that someone great had been born. In Orthodox Christian churches, January 6 is Christmas Day. And for those who don't know it, January 6 was the day work first began to assemble a new congregation in the Castle Rock area, its name being called, Epiphany Lutheran Church.

         These Wise Men went to find him, traveling to Jerusalem, believing a king of the Jews would only be born in the capital city. Their question threw Herod's court and parts of Jerusalem into an uproar. "What do you mean, 'Where is the new king born?' What new king?" The Magi might as well have said they had come to depose Herod, so greatly did their question stir up the people in that volatile capital city of Judea.

         We know the story well. Herod, that old snake, tried getting the Magi to tell him where the baby was born so he could get rid of the little fellow. Kings in those days tolerated no rivals. Herod wanted to make short work of this child, if he just knew where He was. Herod was a snake and rattlesnakes strike whenever they're threatened. They are not driven by compassion, but fear. Snakes are not sociable - they don't want company, and others don't want them, either.

         This year for one of my resolutions, I've begun reading some good books I've neglected. One is titled, Rattlesnakes and Rainbows, a daily devotional book by a longtime friend, Rev. Ted Allwardt of Truth or Consequences, NM. Retired Pastor Allwardt loves hiking, especially in Rocky Mtn. National Park, and some years ago wrote 365 devotions which he published. He gave me a copy awhile back, and I've decided this is the year to read it. He writes in his January 1 devotion these words:

         "New Year's Day in any culture is like a trailhead. We've completed one trail and another is waiting for us. None of us knows for sure what this year's trail will hold. We may have some ideas:.. but for all of us there will be rattlesnakes: [that is] temptations and troubles, sin and problems. But no matter the "rattlesnakes," we can be sure there will also be "rainbows," blessings, at least some times of joy and peace and contentment with the best "rainbow" being the Good News of Jesus Christ, God's Son."

         I like the imagery - rattlesnakes and rainbows - problems and blessings. You and I are all on a trail through life, whether we realize it or not. We began the trail with our parents carrying us, and later we begin to toddle along on our own. During adolescence, we charged ahead to see other trails and experiment with them. In adulthood, we choose a certain trail, sometimes the right one, often the wrong one, and always we are traveling with others, rarely alone.

         Most of us will choose a partner to travel with us. The trail of life will lead us to a fork in the road at times, and then we're forced to choose. Hopefully, we will also take along a guidebook (the best one is the Bible), a book that will show us the right path to follow, God's path, as we make our way along the trail. And wherever we go, there will be rattlesnakes and rainbows.

         On our trail, there will be potholes, events or people that try to push us over the edge, down the mountain into a ravine or raging river. Sometimes we will find what we think is a new and better path, and follow that. Maybe we'll discover it's the wrong path, and we must turn around and take a different one. Perhaps the trail will hurt us, make us sick and frail. Other times it will challenge us, frighten us and even try to kill us. But with God's Guidebook firmly in hand - and reading it, of course! - we will find courage to go the right way.

         As we go, what we do will make a difference. Also what we neglect to do. Last week Carol found a wet spot on the carpet in one of our rooms. That kind of news shakes me up, so I immediately went to see. After much investigation, I discovered a tiny drip from a water supply pipe, just a tiny little drip, hardly a thing. But left unchecked, it had pooled water into a serious wet spot. All it took was a turn of a wrench and the leak was stopped, but left unrepaired, that tiny leak would have caused damage, upstairs and downstairs. A tiny leak was left unchecked! I think we all know the meaning of this in life. A tiny habit here, a little sin repeated there, and unless they're stopped, the damage is done.

         Have you ever noticed how we live in the age of instructional manuals? We do need some, but not all of them. Each day on the trail of life we need to fix things. Each day we need to make sure we're on the right path, to know that God is with us on the trail. So we need to read God's manual. We need to know what it says about what to do when the time comes.

         But today, every little thing has its manual. Carol got me a watch last week, an inexpensive one that I usually manage to keep (because I lose or break the expensive ones), and this one came with a manual and its stern warning: "READ ENTIRE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING!" Wow! They meant it! They made it sound like if I didn't I'd get a visit from the cops or maybe Homeland Security. Well, I threw them away. If I'd read them, I'd have forgotten them anyway. Let them get me! Frankly, I'd rather toss the watch than be forced to "READ ENTIRE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING." I have better things to do, and besides, I think I know by now how a watch works.

         Unfortunately, some people think that way about the Bible. "I don't need to read it," they say. "I know what it says, and what I need to know. I have better things to do. I know how life works."

          But that attitude is a mistake. We don't know it all, and we surely don't live like it. We need the Lord to show us the way. We all need an instructional manual for life, and God has provided us the best one in the Holy Bible. But it'll do us no good if we don't read it. We need God and His Word to show us the way.

          There once was a woman living in a nursing home who faced the challenges of each day with a warm and accepting spirit. But recently things had not been going well for her at age 88. Due to a serious medical condition, she started to lose her hair, and it fell out very quickly. One morning, she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said. "I think I'll braid my hair today." She did, very carefully, of course, and she had a wonderful day. She was cheerful all day long. The second day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmmm," she said. "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a wonderful day. The third day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said. "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and had another wonderful day. The fourth day she looked in the mirror, and realized there wasn't a single hair on her head. What do you suppose she said? "Praise the Lord! I don't have to fix my hair today!"

          Yes, our attitude on the trail of life is important. It can stop us cold, or it can help us face the challenges. We can be stopped by washouts on the trail, or we can use them to see how far we can jump. If our attitude is "I can't do it!" Or maybe, "I don't need any help!" we will have a hard time. But if our attitude is like St. Paul who said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Philippians 4:13), then we will succeed, in God's good way and in God's good time.

          Joseph and Mary had a rocky start to their marriage. Maybe you had one too. The unexpected things they encountered must have discouraged them. Other couples might have given up. Not just from the gossip, not just from government regulations, or the birth in a stable, or the fear of death from an evil old king, or having to entertain unexpected guests, or even that long, long trip to Egypt. Not even having their plans to live in Bethlehem messed up by a new king, or being forced to go back to Nazareth where it all started - none of these persuaded them to give up. They kept trusting God, for they knew He had greater plans than theirs.

          I don't know what kind of a trail lies ahead for you or for me in 2007. We have some idea, of course. But we can be sure there will be rattlesnakes along the way, and there will also be rainbows. God will show us His mercy and lend us a hand along the way. Our rainbows won't last, but their memory might. The beauty of God's solution can stick with us. His glory never really fades, for it remains a reminder of His mercy and love. Jesus is our Lord and no one can take that from us, not disaster or disease or pitfalls or stupidity or anything life can deal us.

          In the days God gives you in 2007, I encourage you to have a positive attitude! Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is walking his own trail. Live simply, for life is not the sum of our toys, but the sum of our trust. Seek God's will and He will show it. Worship the Lord and He will nourish you. Serve others and you will find joy. Love generously and it will return to you. Care deeply and all will be blessed. Speak kindly - let others rant and rave. Like the Psalmist: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Do your best and let God do the rest as you walk your trail with its rattlesnakes and rainbows in this New Year. Amen

Credits:
 
  Epiphany logo designed and provided by Dale Bargmann at daleb@ecentral.com