A Word from Laura: Epiphanies

Before January 6 was known for insurrection, it was Epiphany. For almost two millennia, across continents and cultures, January 6 has celebrated aspects of Jesus’ birth: the star at Bethlehem, the coming of the magi – the coming of the divine in humanity and all creation! Acknowledging differences between Eastern and Western Christianity, Julian and Gregorian calendars, Epiphany is understood as the broader human recognition of God with humanity in the person of Jesus.

An epiphany is any moment of suddenly seeing or understanding something anew or more clearly. A light goes on in the darkness; whatever you see, you can’t forget. I’ve wished I could forget images of the guys walking the streets of DC or taking over the Capitol this time last year. Each newscaster’s reference to the anniversary of the insurrection turns my stomach. But I’ve appreciated the work of those who are trying to see January 6, 2021 as a kind of epiphany, a light shining on something in the darkness that helps us to understand ourselves, our times and our culture more clearly.

As we prepare to hear from those who have been investigating what went on last year, here are a few of my take-aways, or mini-epiphanies.

1) Don’t be afraid to question what you’ve assumed to be true.

Barton Gellman shone the light on my assumptions about the insurgents being mostly poor or uneducated.. While the title of his Atlantic article, “January 6 Was Practice,” felt more incendiary than the article itself, his nuanced portrayal of an insurrectionist gave light to research correlating insurgents, not with a lower economic status or high unemployment or even Trump-voting regions, but with counties where the white share of the population was in decline.

2) Recommit to the larger common good.

I’ve been inspired by political officials across the aisle who have recommitted themselves to their oath to support and defend the Constitution. In this time when even vaccines have become politicized, when basic voting rights can be made to seem controversial again, people of good faith have an opportunity to appeal to values that are important for our shared flourishing.

I know you as a congregation to be thoughtful and faithfully reflective. I’m wondering what your epiphanies are these days. Perhaps you want to resist polarizing language. Maybe you’re feeling led to serve those most vulnerable. Let’s hold fast to January 6 as Epiphany, recognizing that even the worst circumstances can lead to epiphanies, to knew ways of seeing or understanding or committing ourselves to living our faith.

Join us this Sunday for worship, now back on-line. If our worship has meant something to you in the wake of January 6, 2021, I hope you’ll invite a friend or family member, as we share epiphanies and learn to live by them.

May you find new understanding that leads to deeper faith and life,

Laura