This time of year for those of us raised on singing Christmas Carols, We Three Kings of Orient Are is one that brings up fond memories of church candle-light services. A few years ago when feeling lost, the story of the three kings – the wisemen journey – took on deeper meaning for me.
What did their families think of this crazy idea? Following a star to find a king? They had no map. The destination was unknown. How long would they be gone? I imagine they may have had fights with their spouses about all the money it would take to finance this undertaking.
In our day of fast-flight airplanes and GPS guidance, we can’t imagine the amount of preparation such a journey would require. Pack animals, servants to set up nightly tents, food for people and animals…perhaps even armed guards to protect against thieves in the wilderness.
Were These Men Like Us?
Did they ever question each other? “Are we sure we want to do this? What if the destination is a bust? Maybe the exhilaration of this inspiration was a mistake—not God’s leading at all!” Was there always at least one of them who didn’t lose heart and could reassure the others’ doubts?
There have been several times in my life when I experienced sharp alterations in my plans. These were not changes I chose!
As a young child, I felt called, like the wisemen, to embark on a journey to learn how to have a happy, loving marriage and family. My first marriage was beginning to be happy due to some key changes God led me to make. Then, my husband died, leaving me with two baby boys. I played the spiritual game of telling my friends that I was trusting God. I was a spiritual giant! But the truth came out one hot afternoon when rambunctious little boys were wearing me out. Without planning to, I stomped down the hall to my bedroom. Threw myself on the bed, and told God, “I hate you! I hate you for taking away my husband! You ruined my dream! If you were here in a physical body, I would hurt you as much as you’ve hurt me!”
A Powerful Lesson About Being Honest
As I heard those words coming out of my mouth, I trembled in fear. I waited for God to strike me dead for yelling at Him that way! But instead, the sensation of a warm blanket of love covered me. I realized I’d been asking the wrong question. I’d been asking “Why me?” when what I really needed to know was, “Do you love me? Or have I been so bad, that this circumstance was sent to punish me?”
The sensation of this warm blanket of love was so strong that the question of deserving this tragedy completely melted away. I still frequently question my worthiness of being so loved, but the memory of God’s overwhelming response of love to my truthful anger toward Him, returns to reassure me.
I wonder if the wisemen, in that long, arduous journey across the desert, ever lost faith. They thought meeting King Harod was the intended destination. But God made it clear that that king with purple robes, jewels, armies, and palaces wasn’t what they were sent to find.
A Very Different Kind of King
They moved on to find an infant sleeping in an animal manger filled with straw. His parents were two poor, humble Jews without enough money to buy a room in an inn. Yet this is where the Star led them! This is the destination where angels sang to lead dirty, sweaty, lowly shepherds to stand side-by-side with wealthy wisemen to welcome this child into the world. How appropriate is that! The mighty, the wealthy, the poor, the lost standing as equals to welcome a whole new kind of powerful kingdom!
My father once said that he usually couldn’t see God’s guidance in the moment. God’s guidance became clear in old age as he reviewed his life backwards.
I still hope to have some questions answered in eternity, but I’ve lived long enough that, on my most faith-filled days, I know that everything has happened for a reason. There have been no mistakes.
Lessons From Journeys into the Unknown
After years of conflict, Jim Landrum and I learned and practiced respectful skills that delivered the happy, loving marriage I longed for as a child. I’m currently writing my ninth book. I’ve taught classes and coached hundreds of couples to help them have the marriage of their dreams. Every painful experience eventually led to deeper learning and sharing with others…the dream of my childhood.
So do I have special eyes that can see where I’m going now? No! I have ideas about where I hope I am heading; what I hope the accomplishments will be before I end my time on this earth. But I have no guarantee that my plans will be fulfilled. There may be more sudden changes ahead that I can’t see. When that happens, I’ll draw strength from the guidance I can see in my past to trust that all will be well.
I wonder how the journey changed the lives of the wisemen? Did they go home to tell everyone they met about the extraordinary experience they had? Did the surprising meeting of a baby named the King cause them to dig deeply into their faith? Did they wonder at their role of moving Jesus away from Harod to Egypt so that he wouldn’t be slaughtered the way other boy children under two were killed out of Harod’s jealous rage? I hope to quiz these brave, adventurous men someday.
Meanwhile, I try to live by my favorite affirmation, “I am walking in Peace, Trusting my path to unfold.”
You have my love and support,
