White Blossum It was in those days after Christmas and in fact, the New Year revelries may have already passed, but Susannah, age 6 at the time, and I were still celebrating Christmas and the anticipated arrival of the Wise Men. She was playing quietly by herself with the miniature Nativity set and the Wise Men figurines.

I, however, was distracted by “more adult” endeavors, but not before Susannah and I had discussed the disproportionate and rather strange appearance of these play characters. The Wise Men figurines, not only at least three to four times larger than the miniature Nativity cast of Joseph, Mary, Jesus and the shepherds, are also rather unique. Only two of the three traditional representations of the Wise Men were available on the sale table; so, two models of one Wise Man were purchased, making two of them twins. No problem. In our world of imagination, their looks and size were not important. What was important was that they were coming with gifts to see the baby Jesus. Having resolved that question, Susannah and I settled ourselves in our separate tasks.

Sometime later, when I re-entered Susannah’s world, it was like culture shock. She was definitely on a higher plane than I that day, and she was leading me to the very Epiphany I most likely half-heartedly had anticipated. There on the table were neatly arranged the miniature Nativity scene and the grotesquely larger and odd assortment of Wise Men prostrate before the baby Jesus. When questioned about this, Susannah very simply exclaimed that the Wise Men were lying face down, because they were worshiping Jesus.

Instantly, I recognized this as a “Kodak” moment, and while a camera has recorded the drama for our family archives, the image is eternally seared in my mind and spirit. I have continually visualized that scene and pondered the lessons from this beloved, young, and trusting great-niece and namesake. With that particular “epiphany,” I have been reminded that:

when we are open, children teach us profoundly;
the core of who we are is truly spiritual, not physical;
faith opens us to the miraculous revelation of God, but the revelation makes us whole;
humble worship at the manger surely precedes the giving and receiving of divine gifts;

Every year, as I begin my journey to Bethlehem, I carefully unwrap these figurines with senses more keenly attuned than ever to the familiar sights and sounds of the passing season. I always hope I can discern the true message of God's love in the midst of the tinsel. No doubt, too, in my private moments, I remember and am grateful for this picture. And I say a special prayer of blessing for the little girl, with innocent blue eyes and keen imagination, who ever so humbly invited me into her world of faith, pointing me anew to the story of God's ultimate gift.

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