Another Way Home

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Matthew 2:1-12 

I have had many dreams about my mother  and her home of late. Every summer, and many other times during the year we would gather with her there. We would see old friends. For me and my family, it was home and visiting there was homecoming. We did not go there this summer, it was too soon after losing her. It was the first summer ever that I wasn't there. We are in the process of finding new ways home, new ways to be present in our hometown, new ways and other roads to travel. My dreams always remind me of the love and relationships we have, and that the structures are temporary. We will find another way home.

The wise men from the east saw a star and followed it. They honored the Christ child with fabulous gifts and then sought to return home. But the road home was not safe any longer and their  dreams helped them to carve a new path, a new way home. Sometimes our old roads, our old ways, our old patterns have to pass away. We are reminded today by God that we will be brought back by new ways, and we will find our way home.

Today I ask God to help me face this new road and new directions with complete trust and great joy. May we all trust that the lost familiar ways will not be needed where we are being call, today.