Joyeux Noel

Wishing everyone a Joyeux Noel

from the Wisemen and their Landlady!

Eiffel Tower

Dear Landlady,

This trip has definitely had its ups and downs.  First we made it all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower. The view was stupendous!  At least, that's what we heard as we are far too short to see out the window. And for some reason, unbeknownst to us, we have been placed looking in the opposite direction!   

 

 

Eventually we made it all the way back down to the bottom and had an opportunity to look up at where we had been.  We decided that it was probably wise that we had not been able to see out the window when we were at the top.  You know how queasy #3 can get.

   

 

I'm not sure if it was the ride to the top of the tower or the ridiculous traffic but #3 became a wee bit carsick as we made our way to the restaurant for dinner. 

 

 So in order to settle our stomachs after all that driving around in circles we ordered a bottle of wine but you know how poorly #2 holds his alcohol.  Before we knew it he was completely tipsy. 

 And I mean that in the most literal sense.

 This type of behavior is completely inappropriate for men of our stature (and I'm not talking about height here dear landlady.  I'm talking about our being known as "wise.")

Rest assured, I do plan on having a talk with him when we return to the room. 

 

So we ordered some food to absorb the fine French vino!

It's at times like these that arms would definitely come in handy....

 

We are very grateful that the day is ending.  As delighted as we are for having seen the Eiffel Tower we are in need of rest.  Tomorrow we will be heading out on the train to Normandy to see an ancient site of deep spiritual significance.  Until then, Bonne Nuit!

Notre Dame Cathedral

Dear Landlady,
Sorry for the delay in writing but Paris is just too much fun!  This week we spent a good bit of our time touring the Notre Dame Cathedral, which, as you probably know, is one of the best known cathedrals in all the world. Such architecture! So different from that feeding trough that we found the Christ child in oh so many years ago...

And we had the good fortune to meet some fellow astronomers.  So colorful.  They hail from Mumbai where they dwell within a Zoroastrian community.  Turns out there was some confusion when they were purchasing their tickets online to return home from their tour of Rome.  Somehow they wrote 'Paris' instead of 'Parsi.'  They thought the question had to do with their religious identity, not their flight destination.  Can you imagine?  So a simple spelling error compounded by a misunderstanding caused quite the mix up.  As you know, wars have been started over less!  But the Parsis have been delightful companions for us.

 

Of course there was an awkward moment when #3 blurted out that he didn't quite understand how they could possibly have been able to type, never mind purchase tickets online since it's quite obvious to everyone present that their arms are only painted on.  Oh my, dear landlady, there was such a cumbersome silence at that point, but the Zoroastrians were kind enough to eventually find the humor in the situation. I'm going to have a word with #3 when we get back to the hotel. 

 

 

Will write more tomorrow.  We're off to see the famous Notre Dame bells.  I hope the vibration does not knock us off of our nonexistent feet. 

Are we there yet?

Dearest Landlady,
Just a quick update on our trip so far.  We were quite excited (and a wee bit anxious) while waiting to board our plane to New York.  It's been several years since our trip to Ireland and we truly hoped we would be allowed to sit together.   Here we are waiting patiently while watching our plane being prepared for take off.



Once on board we were delighted to meet up with our old friend Santa Claus. It seems he has "gone commercial" as he is now hawking carbonated beverages.  But it was delightful to spend some time with him again.  Such a happy fellow!

So here we are in New York.  Your friends Karen and Elizabeth (who have now become our dear friends) gave us a delightful ride on our luggage.  What a hoot!  But I guess you would have had to be here to realize just how hilarious this was.  Speaking of which, we miss you....

Well, after boarding yet another flight we finally made it to "Gay Paree" as they used to say in the late 1800's!  That's how long it's been since, while en route to the Holy Land one December, we made a bit of a detour.  Those were happy times!  But we digress....It's a joy to touch down on Parisian soil at last.  Here we are checking out all the brochures.  So much to see! So little time!

Here we are arriving in our room.  What a lovely view!

 

But after such a long journey we were experiencing some significant jet lag. The only place we wanted to see at this point was our bed, with the mint on the pillow (which we shared.)  Tomorrow the adventure begins!  Good night dear Landlady. 

 

Bon Voyage

When I arrived home tonight I saw that the wise men had been quite busy.  Bags were packed and by the door. They were so intent on peering at this map that they didn't even notice my entrance.

Me: Excuse me....What are you doing?
Wiseman #2:  Oh hello, dear landlady.  We are planning out our itinerary for our arrival in Paris.
Me:  Really?  You are going to Paris?  When?
Wiseman #3:  We leave tonight.
Me:  What?  Let me see the invitation.
Wiseman #1:  Well, that would be difficult as we told a wee lie to your dog Lucy. 
Wiseman #3:  Yes, we apologize, but we could not wait for you to return so we told her there was a treat inside of the envelope for her.  And knowing the high level of gullibility that your dog possesses, she jumped up onto our bed and ripped it open.  Fortunately we were able to read the invitation before Lucy devoured it along with the envelope.  You really should do something about that dog's lack of manners!
Me:  Well, you set her up.  Anyway, do I need to take you to the airport?
Wiseman #2:  That won't be necessary as a limo is being sent for us.
Me:  What?  This is all too much to take in.  And you all seem remarkably calm.
Wiseman #3:  You forget, dear landlady, that we are seasoned travelers who have followed stars to a manger in a field outside an obscure village.  Travel is in our blood.
Me:  Then why are you studying that map so intently?  Can't you just follow the stars in Paris?
Wiseman #1: Obviously you have not been to Paris of late.  The city suffers from high levels of air particle pollution and it would be impossible to navigate by stars.  Hence, the map!
Wiseman #2:  Enough of this chit chat!  We must get ready! 
Me:  Well, how will I know you are ok?
Wiseman #1:  we will text you.
Me:  Really?  with no arms?
Wiseman #1:  (icy stare)....cruelty is not becoming dear landlady.
Me:  I know. I apologize.  It's just that I'm going to miss you on Thanksgiving. 
Wiseman #3:  Knowing how attached you are to our royal-highness-ness, we left you a prayer and some selfies.
Me:  Selfies?  I really want to ask how you could possibly take a selfie but I know you will think it cruel so I'm just going to wish you safe journeys and bon voyage!

You've Got Mail Wiseguys!

 

 

Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Fifthwheelian, there slept three very wee wise men.  Nothing disturbed their slumber for months on end until one day the landlady received a letter addressed to their royal highnesses.  What should she do?  They looked so peaceful in their very ornate, very large bed.  There they lay, with their pinecone comforter to keep them toasty, while Mary and her precious baby gazed fondly from their rather over-the-top headboard. 

 

 

But this correspondence might be very important.

 

  So she crept up beside them and said, "Hey, wiseguys! wake up!  You've got mail!" And so the sleepyheads returned to reality, looking like they had overslept, which of course they had.

wise man #1:  oh my!  what an intriguing piece of correspondence!

I see the plane and the flag of France!

wise man #2:  and I see Viva la France!

wise man #3:  good grief!  I see nothing but blur.  I must need glasses!

me:  yes, it is quite blurry. let me bring it closer.

 

wise man #3:  Ah much better.  Yes, it's definitely from France.

And oh, look!  It's marked "personal."

me:  I noticed that so I didn't open it.  But I have to go to work now.

wise man #1:  what? you can't just leave us with this mystery. 

We have no arms!  who will open it?

me:  I'll open it when I get home!  I must go or I'll be late.

Have a great day!

 

 

 

 

Letter from the Wise Ones

Greetings Dear Landlady,

We have had yet another delightful Epiphany season. We knew you would want to know that we arrived safely (though Herod tried to fool us yet again.)  The toddler is a wonder to behold and I think he loved his gifts - though his mother took them away from him for safekeeping -  but we completely understand.  We hope he can use them later in life. 

We are heading back now but are taking our time as we've met so many other wise ones on our journey . Tell the leprechaun that we will probably miss him this year as we probably won't return before his big day in March.

Please enjoy the photos we've enclosed of our compadres.  What a joy to travel!

Epiphany Blessings!

The Wise Men

P.S.  The camel is doing splendidly...what a help he has been!

 

Toddler Christ: A Collect

 

"Toddler Christ,

before whom Wise Men knelt,

after they had foolishly aided a tyrant

who wanted to destroy you:

Make us, in the face of dangerous power,

as crafty as snakes and as harmless as doves,

so that we know when to be silent,

when and how to speak,

and when to take another road,

in your name.  Amen"

 

from Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany:

Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship

by Brian A. Wren

p. 199

 

Epiphanies

It's the Wisemen's big day. 

They are off on another adventure to find the Christ Child. 

Me:  Are you excited?

Wise1:  Oh yes dear landlady.   We are very excited to start our pilgrimage. 

Me:  But aren't you supposed to be there today?

Wise1:  It's all about the journey my dear, not the destination.

Me:  Oh...I see....So....I gotta ask....where did the camel come from?

Wise2:  A gift from one of the Magi we visited last year...

Me:  Aha...Well, I must say you did a great job of packing all your gifts upon your camel!

Wise2:  Was that yet another insult about our immovable arms?

Me:  Heavens no!  I was just curious about how you did that?

Wise3:  Never you mind....

Me:  Any wise words before you leave?

Wise1:  Yes indeed.  Do not rest on what you believe to be true. 
Wise2:  Keep searching for the divine in all you do and in all you meet and you will have cause to rejoice.

Me:  So you're saying that we are all called to celebrate Epiphany?

Wise3:  Every day in every situation.  Here's a wonderful quote to ponder while we are gone:
"Without the quest, there can be no epiphany."  Constantine Scaros

Me:  Got it...keep the quest alive! See the beauty of Christ in all that you meet.

Wise3:  And give thanks for every glimpse of that child's light.

Wise1: You will be delightfully surprised by all the light that surrounds you, and by the light you emit.

Me:  Sigh...I miss you guys already....Safe Travels

sheer joy

What do wise men do all day?

Meditate?  Pray?  Discuss deep theological topics?

I often wonder if they tire of one another

as they are always together.

As an extrovert I love being around people,

but I would tire of being in the constant presence of others.

And yes, the wise men have had their tiffs,

 but for the most part, they exude such a strong bond of love.

 

So I asked them today.

Me:  "How do you get along so well with one another?

Wise1:  "Ah...excellent question, dear one." 

 

Wise2:  You see, we really don't consider ourselves as separate."

 

Me:  "Huh?  I'm not sure I understand?"

 

Wise3: "Understanding is not the holy grail."

 

Wise2:  "And seeking explanations will only make you cranky."

 

Me: "Sounds rather Zen to me."

 

Wise3:  "Our spiritual practice is to focus on Love."

 

Wise1:  "And we practice Loving one another. 

Just like the Love born in Bethlehem.

For is not God known by relationships?"

 

Me:  "I don't completely comprehend your mysterious ways but I do love you!"

 

Wise2:  "And we love who we are when we are with you."

 

Wise3:  "Thomas Aquinas said it best:"

 

"God is sheer joy, and sheer joy demands company."

 

Me:  "Oh, I like that image of God as sheer joy!

 

 

And once again, the company of the wise ones brings me joy....

 

 

Wise Men Seeking the Light

 

 

 

 

While lighting my Advent wreath last night for the 3^rd Sunday in Advent I noticed the 3 wise men had made a move.  They had been back in the corner for the longest time so I was surprised to see them this close.  Not wanting to irritate them in any way (which they say I do on a regular basis) I just stood there, waiting for them to initiate a conversation.  It didn’t take long for them to speak and as usual they got right to the point.

Wise1:  Why haven’t you been speaking to us?

Me:  Whatever happened to people greeting one another with ‘Hello, how are you?’ 

Wise1:  Hello, how are you, and why haven’t you been speaking to us?

Me: That’s a bit better.  I’m well, thank you very much, and you know me,  I like to give you guys your space.

Wise2:  We think you forgot about us. That you’ve moved on or outgrown us.  We figured that’s why you moved us into this storage unit.

Me:  First of all, this is not a storage unit, it’s a 5^th wheel and I could never forget about you three!

Wise3:  5^th wheel?  We’re on 5 wheels?  Dear God, don’t start this thing on an odd number of wheels!!!

Me:  Silly wee men, we would have to be attached to a truck to go anywhere.  This is our home at the present time.  Don’t you think it’s kind of cozy?  I thought you’d like it better since you are no longer closed off in a bathroom.  Now you have a view of the whole world…

Wise1:  Which reminds us of that Disney song, “It’s a Small World After All.”

Wise3:  I apologize for my compadre's rude remark.  We just miss our bathroom shelf, especially our leprechaun and our book.  We felt comfortable there and don’t understand why we had to leave.

Me:  Well, life is about change.  Unfortunately your leprechaun pal caught a glimpse of a rainbow outside the bathroom window and ran off in search of yet another pot of gold, but I could provide you with some sort of diversion.  How about a new book to read.  Would you like that?

Wise2:  Yes please. We so enjoy a good read.  And we're pretty sure that leprechaun took our Thomas Merton book with him!

Me:  I've told you fellas that you can never trust a leprechaun...

Wise2:  And wifi would be terrific.  In the meantime, is it really the 3^rd week of Advent?

Me:  Indeed it is.  The week of Joy.  Known as Gaudete Sunday which comes from the Latin word for “rejoice.” This marks the halfway point.  Are you feeling joyful?

Wise3:  Not really.  We’ve been having a bit of a pity party and not wanting to reach out.

Wise1:  But now we’re glad we did. 

Me:  Me too…I haven’t been good about keeping connected and for that I apologize.  Which reminds me of this wonderful quote about our need for one another.  Check it out while I search for that book…

Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.   -Albert Schweitzer

Wise3:  Yes, this is a lovely quote that wise men like us should practice.  And we really didn’t mean to complain about the housing you’ve provided.  You are kind, but when we focus only on ourselves, we tend to get a bit melancholy.  Here’s to rekindling one another’s light as we continue walking this path together!

Me:  Amen!

(If you are new to this blog and would like to read of previous adventures of the wise ones click on the "wise men" in the Labels section to the left.)

 

 

 

Move In Day



It's move in day.  David and I are starting to put our "stuff" into our 5th wheel which is parked in our daughter's sideyard.  We've been living in her spare bedroom since October so now we're feeling like we are taking up an extravagant amount of space.  And I've brought the wise guys over.  I took them out of their box and placed them in front of the kitchen window to ease them into their new digs.  So far they haven't said anything.  Can't tell if they are mad or in shock.  Plus I haven't quite figured out how to break the news that they missed the Feast of the Epiphany.  But they are the wise men.  They probably already know that.  Which explains the silence.

So I'll leave you with a quote from their Thomas Merton book - the only reading material they've had in their box for the last 3 months:


"When I am liberated by silence,
when I am no longer involved in the measurement of life,
but in the living of it,
I can discover a form of prayer in which there is effectively, no distraction.
My whole life becomes a prayer.
My whole silence is full of prayer.
The world of silence in which I am immersed contributes to my prayer."

-Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, p.103

Wise Men aWakening

My wise men have been hermetically sealed in bubble wrap for the past 3 months.

Was that necessary? Well, there was really no where for them to reside in safety.

At least they had their favorite Thomas Merton book to keep them company.

And since we are moving into our new digs within the coming week I thought it best to wake them,

after all Epiphany is right around the corner!

Unfortunately I’m bringing them back on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

This is not their favorite memory as they feel responsible for

Herod killing innocent children in an attempt to kill the Christ.

But how were they to know?

Anyway, here is today’s Collect – Let us continue to pray for the grieving families of Newtown, CT.

We remember today, O God,

the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod.

Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims;

and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants

and establish your rule of justice, love and peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

even the wise fear change

My wise guys are feeling some anxiety these days.

You see, we are in the process of moving and their window ledge, their home, is bare. 

 

Gone are the wee books of wisdom that they read together,

 

gone is the waving cat that they once mistook as Divine until they learned his secret,

 

 

and gone is the annoyingly arrogant leprechaun.

 

 This has created a mood of fear as you can see from the picture.

They remain huddled in the corner and no amount of coaxing will move them.

I feel their distress. Packing and purging are painful.

But, they will have to overcome their fear of the future, as will I.

For change involves risk, stepping out into the unknown.

But I will not let the wisemen step off their shelf unassisted.

I will carry them carefully to their new home,

wherever that may be.

the wise men vs.the leprechaun

Well, Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

I spent the morning facilitating a workshop on creating Celtic Blessings

and came home feeling completely blessed. 

Until of course, I heard the commotion coming from the guest bathroom.

It seems the wisemen are having "issues" with the leprechaun.

ME:  What is all the noise about?

Wiseman #1:  We want to issue a formal complaint.

ME:  About what?

Wiseman #2:  This gigantic green man you've put on our shelf.

ME:  The leprechaun?

Wiseman #3:  Yes. The leprechaun.

ME:  What seems to be the problem?

Wiseman #2:  His smirk.

ME:  Leprechauns are known for being full of mischief.

That's just his mischievous look.

Wiseman #1:  No!  He's taunting us.

Wiseman #2:  Yes, he keeps bragging about his gold.

Wiseman #3:  And we are sure it's stolen.  Call the police!

ME:  Hold on.  Calm down.  You wee fellas get riled so easily!

Wiseman#1:  He says that he will steal our gifts while we're sleeping.

ME:  Um. Knowing how much you dislike my bringing up your

immovable arms....

Wiseman #2:  We'll make an exception this one time.

ME:  Well look at his arm.  It too is permanently attached to his gold.

Wiseman #1, #2, #3:   SILENCE

ME:  Do you realize that if a human captures a leprechaun he has to

give them 3 wishes in order to regain his freedom? 

Looks to me like this could be your lucky day!

 Here's your chance to get your arms unglued!

The wisemen moved to the corner to  put their heads together to confer for several minutes.

Wiseman #2:  We've made a decision.

Wiseman #3:  Yes, We're at peace with the permanent position of our arms.

Wiseman #1:  And so we are pooling our 3 wishes.

ME:  So tell the leprechaun what you want!

Wiseman #2:  We want YOU  to remove him.

ME:  And why would I do that?

Wiseman #2:  Because we have evidence of your

fraternizing with the enemy.

ME:  What are you talking about?

Wiseman #1:  Look at this photo.  You are one of them!

ME:  OMG!  Where did you find that ancient picture? 

Wiseman #3:  Never you mind!  Please remove him

or we'll post this for all the world to know your true identity!

ME: Oh all right.  But you need to know that I'm not a

real Leprechaun.  I just play one to annoy my children.

The Roominess of Jesus

THEY MADE IT!

And we welcome our new wise ones,

pulled from the prospect of a

Permanent Advent.

There is always room with Jesus.

Always.

Blessed Epiphany to All!

Collect for Epiphany

O God, who by the leading of a star

manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:

Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence,

 where we may see your glory face to face;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Permanent Advent

Me:  I wonder how the wise ones are faring after their "experience" of yesterday? 

 Let's check in, shall we?

Hello again wise ones.  How are we doing this evening?

Wiseman #2:  As we reconsider these words of Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB,

We are wondering if what you have shown us so far could be classified as

"nourishment to sustain the journey" or just a strange mirage to feed our nightmares?

Me:  Well, I think you need to see the bigger picture and how we are all connected. 

That in itself should serve as a spiritual oasis - knowing that you are not alone in your calling -

that at this time we are all drawn toward Bethlehem,

fulfilling the promise of seeing the new King.

Speaking of which, I'd like to show you this picture:

Here are 3 young wise ones who have found the location of the star but the stable is empty. 

They are waiting in what you might call a "permanent Advent." 

Wiseman #3:  How discouraging to go all that way and not find the Christ child.

Wiseman #2:  Yes, we do take it for granted that we always find Jesus.

Wiseman #1:  Um, am I the only one here who thinks that gigantic reindeer

might have scared away Mary and Joseph?  Look at that behemoth! 

I bet he ate them for a snack! 

Me:  Stop being so dramatic! He looks very friendly to me.

Wiseman #2:  You are not 2 inches tall as we are. 

Me: That's true.  I do have the habit of looking at situations through my own eyes. 

I bet he does look intimidating to someone of your stature, 

but those red polka dotted ears are a good sign he's not a threat.

And I did feel badly for the little ones and so I brought them home.

Wiseman #1: You mean you BOUGHT them!   Tell me you paid more than 99 cents?

Me:  As I recall I paid $1.49. 

Wiseman #1:  Oh! Wow!  That's great news! 

 Let's see, that breaks down to about 50 cents a piece. 

It saddens me to think that's all we are worth to the Good Will.

Me:  The goal of the Goodwill is not to make exorbitant profits

but to provide employment to those in need while supplying household goods

 to those who can't afford to purchase new items. 

Wiseman #2:  Your clarification is helpful dear Landlady...I think we can live with that. 

Wiseman #3: I don't want to speak for my friends here,

 but this idea of living in a "permanent Advent" is giving me a deep desire to see Jesus. 

What say you fellas?

Wiseman #1:  I too am experiencing a stirring deep within. 

We owe it to all the other wise ones to continue to seek Christ.

Wiseman #2: And I'll do anything to not have to see any more of these vignettes!

Me:  What?  But I have this really cool photo of a golden angel at the manger and the cross!

 Wisemen #1,#2,#3:  AAUGGHHHH! 

Growing Wiser?

Last night, the wisemen caught their first glimpse of life for another wise one and they weren't sure what to make of it.  Shall we continue the saga?

Me:  Good Evening my favorite wisdom seekers!  Are you ready for the next story?  

Wiseman #1:  We think we are.

Me: OK. Tell me, what do you see?

Wiseman #2:  Another wise man with another 99 cent price tag!  Is that all wise ones are worth in this place of Good Will!

Wiseman #3:  WAIT! What is that sticking out of the top of his head?

Wiseman #1:  Is that a candle wick?  HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! There is a wick coming out of that man's head!  He's a self-immolating wise man!

Wiseman #2:  The horror! The shame!
 
Me:  Well it's not like he's been "lit"...

Wiseman #1:  I surely hope he ends up in a match-free environment.  Oh this is just too much!

Wiseman #2:  I can't bear to think of what happened to his compadres.
 
Me: Calm down.... Is this enlarging your world view?

Wiseman #3:  Only if you move on to another picture.

Me: I'd love to.  Here's our next scene:

Wiseman #3:  That's a refined looking wiseman with a fine gift of gold!

Wiseman #1:  But what and who is that next to him?

Me:  That's a cowboy 'wise one' bringing gifts to the baby Jesus - I think he's holding a nutcracker?

Wiseman #2:  Cowboy?  Cowboys can't be wise! And what kind of a gift is a nutcracker?

Me:  Stop being so judgmental.  Cowboys can be wise ones.  And the nutcracker appears to be the gift he's bringing.  It's the gift he has to offer.  Jesus accepts all gifts.  All.  From everyone.   Now here is the full picture:

Wiseman #3:  IS THIS A JOKE? 

Wiseman #2:  ARE YOU MOCKING US?

Me:  No, this is not a joke and I'm in no way mocking you.  Nativity scenes are depicted in a myriad of ways - different sizes, different cultures, even different species, but all with the same message.  LOVE is BORN.....And if these wanderers who have found themselves in this temporary place of Good Will, have found a way to live out their calling, what is stopping you 3 from continuing your journey?  That step which you fear to take is the one that leads towards life.

Wiseman #1:  Perhaps you speak truth dear landlady.  We will take all of this into consideration.

Me:  I have more pictures to show you!

Wiseman #1:  Not tonight.  We need time to digest.  Come and see us tomorrow.  But can you remove the matches from the top of the commode on your way out please? 

Me:  No one's going to light you on fire!  I promise.

Wiseman #2:  For our peace of mind, please take them away.

Me:  OK, will do....Sleep well little ones...sleep well.

Good Will to Wise Men

In our last installment, our 3 wise ones were left to ponder the words of Mary Lou Kownacki's words from 100 Graces.  Shall we continue the story? Come with me into the the wisemen's domain - the guest bath!

Me:  How are you feeling today?

Wiseman #1:  A bit under the weather... Such dreary rain outside our window today.

Wiseman #2:  Yes, dear landlady, we don't think this is the best day to visit the other wise ones as you suggested the other day.

Me:  Well, lucky for you, we don't have to journey anywhere today.  I will be bringing images to you!

Wiseman #3:  Oh?  You have caught the attention of our collective curiousity!

Me:  Allrighty then.  Several weeks ago I journeyed to a very sacred place called the Goodwill.

Wiseman #1:  As in good will towards men?

Me:  Yes. Something like that.  It's a place that people take their things to that they no longer want or need. Then other people come to this place and purchase these things to take to their homes.

Wiseman #2:  What?  That's awful!  Are you considering taking us there?

Me:  I would never part with any of you! I'm actually bringing the GoodWill here to you today.

Wiseman #2:  We do not understand...

Me:  Just look at this picture and tell me what you see:

Wiseman #1:  A wise one? 

Wiseman #2:  With a price tag!  99 cents?  How can a price be put on a wise one?  WHERE'S THE GOODWILL IN THAT!

Wiseman #3:  Are you trying to upset us?  What is that creature beside him?  A bloated marshmallow wearing clothes?

Wiseman #2:  Watch out for the one behind you, oh wise one!  He's about to attack with that broom!

Me:  Everybody calm down!  This wise one is fine. The snowman is not going to attack! This is a shelf in the Christmas decor section of the Goodwill store.  The point I'm trying to make is that there are many ways to live out one's calling.  

Wiseman #1:  But where are his wise mates?  Isn't he lonely?  How did he end up all alone? 

Me:  I don't have the answers to any of those questions.  But, I do know that he is serving exactly where he is.  And he is NOT alone.   So what if it's with snow people and a comfy clapboard house?  He's still about bringing his gifts, just as he was created to do.

A short silence ensued.....

Wiseman #3:  Can we go to visit this sad man? 

Me:  No, because he's not there anymore.  And I don't see him as being sad.

Wiseman #1:  Did someone buy him for the paltry sum of 99 cents?  I am appalled.

Me:  I'm sure he found a wonderful home.

Wiseman #2:  We are more confused than anything by this news.  Why did he not set out for the holy land? 

Me:  Goodwill was his holy land.

Wiseman #3:  We must have time to process. Can you leave us now, dear landlady?

Me:  That's probably a good idea.  We'll continue our journey tomorrow. In the meantime,  in the words of Luke 2:14, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will towards men.

a joyful and arduous journey

As you recall from yesterday's post, our wise men are in a bit of a funk.

I left them with 100 Graces as it is a smallish book perfectly suited

for smallish readers.

Me:  So, have you found any words of wisdom in this book?

Wiseman #3:  We believe that this writing by Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB,

 was written just for us. We have read, meditated on, and discussed it all day. 

Me:  And may I ask what you have learned?

Wiseman #2:  We are drawn to the second paragraph.  Would you like us to read it?

Me:  Yes please. That would be lovely.

Wiseman #1:  "It is both a joyful and arduous journey.  Sometimes the star shines

brightly, the promise seems certain, and the pilgrims can sing,

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring God's peace." 

Often the star disappears, clouded over, hidden from view,

 and the pilgrims grope blindly, grow discouraged, get weary, give thought

to settling down, to forgetting the promise of peace."

Me:  Ahhh, this speaks to the "both/and" aspect of our spiritual journeys.

Wiseman#3:  Yes, in the past we have felt so certain of our calling. 

We were overjoyed to follow the star.

But this year we know that we have grown discouraged, and have given

thought to settling down right here on this shelf. 

Me:  Well there's nothing wrong with living here on this shelf - 

unless God is calling you to move towards something else. 

Are you being called?

Wiseman #1:  We're not sure because we really haven't spent any time reflecting on our calling or listening for the whisper of God. 

We are sad to say that we focused entirely on keeping our gifts safe -

especially in the face of these tough economic times. 

The leprechaun advised us to keep them close to our hearts.

Me:  What did I tell you about trusting leprechauns who horde gold?  

Wiseman #3:  We know but he convinced us that we should hold on to our gifts.

Me:  How hard can that be when they are attached to your hands?

Wiseman#2:  Your sense of humor is once again teetering on cruelty....

Me:  I know, I know...sometimes I just can't help myself....I apologize.  

 I have an idea that I think might help. 

It involves your seeing how you are connected to other wise ones. 

Tomorrow we will talk again, but before I go,  

can you read the last paragraph to me?

Wiseman #1: "One thing is certain:  All pilgrims need nourishment to sustain the journey.

An occasional oasis for the spirit is essential, a time to feast on the refreshing waters,

the rich food of the spirit, in order to get strength to continue the pilgrimage

through darkness, star-shine or not."

Me:  Oh, those are beautiful words.  I'll leave you to ponder those.

Good Night my little leprechaun lovers!