With the upcoming feast of the Epiphany, and this being the last edition of The Compass, it feels appropriate that we acknowledge our Compass staff. Since 1978, they have manifested in print the Word of God made flesh through its pages. Our gratitude to them and may many blessings accompany each of them on their daily path.
It is so easy to overlook the manifestation of good things in our lives. Twenty-two years ago, my landlord planted a five-foot Fir tree in the backyard. That first Christmas I wrapped it in 100 blue lights. This year “Big Blue” towers at 25-plus feet and I had to hire a company to hang the lights. Two thousand lights in all.
The evening when Blue was lit for the first time, I did not stand there in awe, but rather noticed the various spots, 25 feet above me, where there could have been more lights. How often does that happen in our lives? Something wonderful is unfolding before us and we miss it because of some incidentals that did not meet our expectations.
How differently our Epiphany story would read if the Magi, noticing the animals milling around in the house, cobwebs hanging in corners or an oil lamp growing dim, chose to look away and continue on. Blessedly, they allowed wonder and hope to fill their being and, in doing so, could overlook the “incidentals” and see the magnificent event of salvation that was disguised within a little child.
In this New Year, may our minds and hearts accept that Jesus is here and continues to be manifested among us. Often people who have physical vision issues have a seeing eye dog, that second set of eyes to help them navigate their life. Perhaps, each of us needs a second set of eyes, “seeing eyes of the heart.” These eyes help us see beyond the ways of secular society, which encourages us to become fixated on what is wrong with everyone and everything that does not meet our expectations.
When you awake each morning, ask God for the sensitivity to see and know the presence of Jesus in the day ahead. As you fall asleep, recall the unexpected ways Jesus met you throughout the day.
Perhaps it was a child’s smudgy fingerprints on a window or the deeply veined hand of an elder holding a cup of tea. Maybe it was in that deep breath you took after reading that one email that said, “Only if you have time,” or when you saw a pet looking at you with loving and trusting eyes.
There are so many bright lights out there! Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, in his book “The Little Prince,” wrote about seeing with the eyes of one’s heart. So, in this matter, both a little Prince and three Kings agree, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Zahorik is director for spiritual engagement at St. Mary Parish, Omro, and St. Mary Parish, Winneconne.
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