Welcome to all the new subscribers at The Cottage! I’m glad you are here. Heck, we’re all glad you are here! 2024 is shaping up to be, well, a year like no other. And it will be good to have companions as we make our way through whatever comes.
December was unusual because paid subscribers received a post every single day until Christmas — and you may be feeling a bit lonely that I’ve not been in your mailbox each morning since. But now we’re back to our regular publication schedule of Sunday Musings (every week) and two or three midweek posts each month on something newsworthy or thought-provoking. In addition to this regular content, paid subscribers can expect an invitation to Third Thursday Live (our online Cottage gathering and recorded conversation), a monthly more-personal letter, and occasional special posts. The next DAILY series will be during Lent, beginning February 14.
A new feature begins on January 9: THE COTTAGE READER, a monthly round-up of interesting articles and books. There’s so much to read and we’d like to provide a little guidance through the pages.
My husband, Richard, who worked in the publishing industry for 40 years (including 14 years as the director of Alban Publishing), will curate the COTTAGE READER. He loves books, is endlessly curious, knows tons about religion, churches, and politics, and is a great conversation partner. THE COTTAGE READER will, at least in these first months, go to all subscribers. Initially, we’ll be trying out some different things and look forward to your active contributions, suggestions, and comments on this new experiment.
REFLECTION
The best thing about belonging to a liturgical church (as I do), is that Christmas isn’t just a day. It is TWELVE days! Yep, those twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days following Christmas. Today (January 4) is the eleventh day; tomorrow (January 5) is the twelfth day and twelfth night; and Saturday (January 6) is Epiphany.
These are the days of the turning — from the birth to the aha!
As longtime readers know, Epiphany is one of my favorite church seasons. Last year, I shared these words in my January 5 post, “Active Epiphany” (you can read the entire piece by clicking the link):
The origins of Epiphany as a church festival are somewhat vague, as is the very definition of the word. “Epiphany” can mean manifestation, revelation, appearance, insight, enlightenment, or a shining forth. Epiphany begins with the story of the Magi, three astrologers, who follow a brilliant star to the place of Jesus’ birth and honor the child with gifts. Upon seeing the baby, they were “overwhelmed with joy,” and fell on their knees.
The wise men awaited a sign in the sky — a star — to guide them on this journey. Revelations break in, light shines forth, and glory appears. Such things are from the realms of mystery, awe, and wonder. They surprise and disrupt the normal course of existence. Epiphanies are not of our making.
But it would be a mistake to believe that we are only passive recipients of epiphanies. We need to be alert for their appearance and search out the trailings of their presence. Revelations can be missed if one isn’t attentive or attuned to the possibilities of sacred surprise.
This year, I’m wondering: What it would be like to expect epiphanies? Not just in stars, but in the more normal course of things. What if we “attuned” ourselves to “sacred surprise”?
Can we be open to the possibility that “aha” moments might happen anywhere and anytime? Maybe epiphanies — not just the big, dramatic, starry ones — are humbly manifesting themselves all around us in ways we don’t expect, and they hold the promise of insight and deeper understanding in the everyday.
When the Wise Men go home and the tree comes down, things return to normal. Or do they? The beautiful, unexpected, and even unbelievable story of God-With-Us in a cradle invites us to a rebirth of imagination.
What epiphanies surround us? What epiphanies lie ahead?
AN EPIPHANY GIFT FROM HOMEBREWED CHRISTIANITY
During Advent, Tripp Fuller at Homebrewed Christianity hosted a wide-ranging multi-week pop-up course on “The Cosmic Christ” featuring Philip Clayton, philosopher and Process theologian, and me. Our final episode was “The Cosmic Christology Ladder,” an informal discussion based on questions submitted by the Homebrewed audience. Class members LOVED it and wanted to share it — it is full of nerdy insights and pointed conversation in response to Tripp’s amazing framework presented at the beginning of the show. Honestly, the whole conversation was an EPIPHANY of the theological sort, especially if you’ve ever wondered how the human Jesus and divine Christ relate to one another.
Talk about surprise: 🤯.
Tripp wanted you to listen and sends this gift to The Cottage with his best.
INSPIRATION
Unclench your fists
Hold out your hands.
Take mine.
Let us hold each other.
Thus is his Glory Manifest.
— Madeleine L’Engle, “Epiphany”
The mood of Christmas — what is it? It is a quickening of the presence of other human beings into whose lives a precious part of one’s own has been released. It is a memory of other days when into one’s path an angel appeared spreading a halo over an ordinary moment or a commonplace event. It is an iridescence of sheer delight that bathes one’s whole being with something more wonderful than words can ever tell. Of such is the mood of Christmas.
The quality of Christmas — what is it? It is the fullness with which fruit ripens, blossoms unfold into flowers, and live coals glow in the darkness. It is the richness of vibrant colors — the calm purple of grapes, the exciting redness of tomatoes, the shimmering light on the noiseless stirring of a lake or sunset. It is the sense of plateau with a large rock behind which one may take temporary respite from winds that chill. Of such is the quality of Christmas.
The symbol of Christmas — what is it? It is the rainbow arched over the roof of the sky when the clouds are heavy with foreboding. It is the cry of life in the newborn babe when, forced from its mother’s nest, it claims its right to live. It is the brooding Presence of the Eternal Spirit making crooked paths straight, rough places smooth, tired hearts refreshed, dead hopes stir with newness of life. It is the promise of tomorrow at the close of every day, the movement of life in defiance of death, and the assurance that love is sturdier than hate, that right is more confident than wrong, that good is more permanent than evil.
— Howard Thurman, from The Growing Edge
SOUTHERN LIGHTS: January 12-14, 2024
Join us online (or later via recording)
Our theme is Reimagining Faith Beyond Patriarchy and Hierarchy.
YOU ARE INVITED to join me and my friend Brian McLaren as we reimagine our faith beyond patriarchy and hierarchy in our interior lives, in our communities of faith, and in the Scriptures.
We’ve asked three remarkable speakers to take us through this journey: Cole Arthur Riley, Simran Jeet Singh, and Elizabeth “Libbie” Schrader Polczer (our “resident” Mary Magdalene guide!). Our special guest chaplain for the weekend will be the Rev. Winnie Varghese (St. Luke’s Episcopal, Atlanta). And you’ll be treated to the amazing music of Ken Medema and Solveig Leithaug and other surprise offerings!
ONLINE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION CAN BE FOUND HERE
You can sign up until the day the conference begins. But we encourage you to do so earlier!
A song for the season — based on the story of the Wise Men — to strengthen you as we face these days. “Take Us Home by Another Way” by Christopher Grundy.
I bet you’ve never heard a hymn mentioning the Proud Boys and the Klan before. I can’t stop singing this one (ask Richard). Listen in. You won’t be disappointed.
Give us strength to walk
Show us dreams of a better day
and we’ll pave the way with justice.
going home by another way.
Thank you so much for sharing “Take Us Home By Another Way.” I can see why you can’t stop singing it !
This is a belated thank you for the beautiful advent reflections. I journeyed with the word “near” the whole season. The images, music, readings, prayers were so helpful and grounding to me. Thank you for your continued ministry! I am so grateful for you.