epiphany 2015 - cultivating trust

“What’s that little candle for?” Willie asked......

Jamie rubbed a hand through his hair. “Aye, well. It’s … maybe a way of praying—and remembering. Ye light the candle, and say a prayer and think of people ye care for. And while it burns, the flame remembers them for ye.” Excerpt From: Gabaldon, Diana. Voyager

Each year on Epiphany, we will use a piece of chalk and will write on our door. 

You all may remember seeing this on our door in years past... 

This year, Anna wrote the following on our doorframe:

20 C M B 15

This is a Christian tradition that has been around since the Middle Ages. January 6^th happens to be Epiphany when we remember the visit of the kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. Or some say that C M B stands for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, May Christ bless this house.  The numbers represent the year, 2015. 

Christ’s first home was a humble stable where shepherds came, at the bidding of angels, to worship the newborn king.  The wise men followed a strange star in order to worship the One who was more than worthy of the precious gifts they brought. 

That was 2000 years ago. Now, the risen Christ lives in us. Our very lives are the places that Jesus makes his home.  When we invite a guest into our house we have the opportunity to be Christ to them.  Whether it is through the hospitality of a meal, a place to sleep, a listening ear, or a cup of sugar, we have the opportunity to share the heart of God with those who pass through our doors.

The tradition of “chalking the door” is a way of marking our homes, usually at the front or main entrance, with sacred signs and symbols as we remember those who have passed through our doors in the past year and ask God's blessing upon those who will pass through in the coming year.  Just as the wise men followed the star until they found Jesus, we pray that those who come into our home would also encounter Jesus.

Your names were mentioned among the beloved friends and family who have come through our doors and we look forward to having you come gather around our table again this summer.... 

The other thing that we did last night is that we gathered around the table, held hands and prayed for Jason's job.  Today (January 6th) marks one year since he lost his job. This has been a long road for sure and has required perseverance, hope and faith to push us up the hills. As I look back on this year, I am so grateful for the ways that the children have grown through this. Anna was the one who prayed last year on the day we found out: "Dear God, please help Daddy find a job. We know this is in Your hands." Those words have brought me perspective and have kept me going on many a day.  Taylor commented this summer about how we've all learned to wait in this time after he had been waiting for weeks for some lacrosse equipment to arrive in the mail which was really really hard for him. He linked it to how I had to wait on my Visa for India until the last minute and Jason has had to wait for a job.  Taylor also told me that he had been praying for him every night for a while when I reminded them about Jason's job interview in December.  These are all beautiful windows into the work the Spirit is doing in Anna and Taylor through all of this. 

When we gathered to pray last night, Taylor said "Please help Daddy find a job." 

Anna said "Please help Daddy find something that he does not dread going to everyday." 

And I closed with "We thank You for how You've provided. We know this is in Your hands." 

I loved what Anna said because in some ways it reminded me of the verse in Genesis about the curse being given to man of sweat, labor, work and toil.  And this for men often defines life and falsely can be a place where men (and women too of course) look to find identity.  

So in this year, when Jason has demonstrated true grit and has had to press on, network, and work like crazy to find the next step, I am seeing how God redeems.  Work does not define us, and our identity is grounded in the fact that we are indeed His beloved children who are trying to keep holding this situation up to the light each day. God has provided for our family through some contract work along the way that Jason has had through Seattle Public Schools and a few other avenues too and through more work for me at Seattle Pacific University for which we are so grateful.  There may be some possible doors opening up soon, but in the meantime, we are knocking, seeking, and waiting. 

God has been cultivating trust in our family, and while we don't have the answer all neatly packaged in a box with a ribbon on top, we are continuing to hold onto hope. 

Thank you for praying with us and walking this journey with us....