GPS

What did we ever do before we had GPS (global positioning system) to guide us to our destinations?  I clearly remember traveling for a business meeting to South Carolina in our rental car that had this “person in a box” telling us when and where to turn, assisting us in arriving at our hotel.  It was amazing!  The voice would even tell us when we went off track during our journey and adjusted our directions to get us back on the correct route.

Some of you may not even remember that people actually depended on detailed paper maps, that were folded neatly in our glove compartments (and somewhat challenging to fold back to its compact state).  When planning our trips, we would simply pull out the appropriate map for our journey and “map out” our route.  There were no voices that would alert us that we had gone off course or suggested a better way to get to our destination.

On this celebration of Epiphany, it reminds me of our three brave kings who did not have the advantage of using a GPS to guide them.  They only had predictions from scripture, faith and a star – one lone, but brightly shining star above them.   That was what they followed, looking for what they believed was a miracle.

Nothing turned them back during their difficult journey, for they listened to a different voice, not from some box guiding them to their destination.  But they followed a voice deep inside them, pulling them towards that little miracle they would soon discover in a lowly manger.

Over the years, there have been many accounts on how and when our three kings arrived to worship the Child, Jesus.  But in the end, the details are  not important, only that they traveled following their hearts and a star to help them light the way to their destination.

I pray that your travels will take you on a direct route to Jesus and His open arms in this new year.  It doesn’t matter if your GPS took you off course.  It’s only important if you continue your journey by His light.  We wish you a happy and a blessed new year!

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:1-3