It’s late morning, it’s raining (again) and so gloomy that I need the study light on.  How different from yesterday when the sun shone and we were able to enjoy a brisk, winter walk.  Then all was quiet and peaceful and we had the tracks to ourselves.

Today cars hiss past in a welter of spray.   From puddles on the highway to piracy on the high seas; journeys today can be challenging.  It pays to be well prepared and, perhaps, even to consider that old wartime poster Is your journey really necessary?  I have a choice.  With no need to travel today I can wait until the storm is passed.  We don’t always have that luxury.

Before I began Ordination training I was interviewed by a bishop.  I had a carefully mapped out plan, waiting only for his approval for me to get started.  Instead, the bishop said, in effect, get on with it, now.  My two year plan to get out of the RAF and into a training college was telescoped into 9 months.  Looking back, I can see how God’s plan and timing worked so much better than mine.  All it needed was trust.  Had I said ‘no’ to the bishop, he would probably have said ‘no’ to me.  Over the years I suspect many of us have had similar experiences.

This weekend is Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles; represented in the visit of the Magi to Jesus – the one born to be ‘King of the Jews’.  Then, as now, such a visit was laden with risk. The Magi, too, must have faced adverse weather, bandits and the dangers stirred by the political implications of their visit.  They didn’t get to choose the time of their travel but they did get the choice to stay or go. For years they had searched for a sign.  I’m sure they, too, had carefully laid plans for the journey it would entail.  Now they saw his star in the East, and knew it was the sign to go, and go now; the journey had begun; but were they ready?  The reward for their faithful trust was a unique encounter with God incarnate.

As we enter a New Year there is always a sense of fresh start, take stock, what will the year bring.  A journey lies ahead of us.  We may have plans or expectations.  We may confidently expect this year to be much the same as every other year.  We may be right.  Then again, like the Magi, like Abraham before them, and countless others since, we may be called to journey to new places; always remembering that the journey of faith may take us a long way, without leaving our physical home.

Rev Philip  Payne                                                           Epiphany 2024

The Notice Sheet for 7th January can be found here