Pastor's Column
Happy New Year! It's ok to say that for a while, Iguess. There is a tendency to reflect on the past as westart something new. Watching children fascinates me.Their speech and actions are seldom couched in politicallycorrect activities, like when a little one looks atme and says; "you're fat." I remember asking somechildren about the Feast of Epiphany. One child'shand shot up in the air and was waving frantically ashis breathing quickened and he shouted, in a hushedvoice, proclaiming, "I know! I know! I know!" Naturally,I had to hear this answer. "The Three WiseGuys," was his reply. I loved it and he was right. Theywere wise guys. The title Magi is the root word for ourword "magician". Somehow wisdom is downplayedin our world. I suspect that the technocrats have donethis to us. Wise guy has become a pejorative or negativeremark rather than a title of honor. Our ancientancestors respected wisdom so much so that they personifiedit, made it into a sign of God's presence, andheld it in awe. But what is this thing called "wisdom"?For years I was baffled. Then came a breakthrough inthe form of a very simple, yet clear, definition. Wisdomis applied knowledge. Take the "Wise Guys".The scriptures identify them as astrologers, stargazers.They saw a star rise. Their science said this announcesa significant person. So they saddled their camels andfollowed the star. They applied their knowledge. Nowothers had been waiting for generation upon generationfor this star to arise, representing the promisedone, whom they would call the Messiah. The "WiseGuys" followed their star and found the Holy One.They recognized his significance because they appliedwhat they knew to be true. They did homage and offeredgifts and returned safely home. Now the others,including the religious leaders of the day, who hadbeen waiting and looking for generations, refused torecognize the Holy One and instead they tried to slayhim with their rule of violence and tyranny. Theynever saw the Holy One in their midst. Peace escapedthem. Look to the sky, pick out a star, name it, make ityour own, and follow it. Is that too poetic? How oftendo we choose not to apply knowledge, for example, intaking care of our health, in enriching relationships, inour spiritual life, at work and in careers, but insteadcreate a hostile or violent climate? Maybe that is why"Wise Guy" has become pejorative or negative. The"Wise Guy" is often the one who reminds us that wedidn't apply our knowledge, the one with the answersthat we don't like. Be a "Wise Guy". Pick a star andfollow it. The shepherds did. The Wise Men did. Bothof them found the infant God, born in Bethlehem. Thesimple shepherds and the clever wise guys both foundpeace. How about you? Again, Happy New Year!