A Different Way
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“But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way.” Matthew 2:12
As we reflect on 2021 and begin to ponder the coming of a new year, the word that describes life is different. The world is different since COVID entered into our well-being. The views of others are different in their intensity and lack of tolerance and acceptance. Our relationships are different because of loss and change.
We have been trying to live in this different life. As I read the story of the wise men who come to worship Jesus and bring him gifts, the scripture states they returned home “a different way.” Maybe in 2022, we follow the wise men and turn a different way. We have habits and routines that are not always the healthiest on the journey. What if in 2022, we try doing some different things and do our routine and life in a different way. Yes, this can be scary, but what if we did it even if we are afraid? Maybe we take a few risks, do some things we never attempted on our own, and let go of some of the negative baggage of our past.
The wise men returned a different way because they had been warned in a dream but also because they had been with Jesus. They encountered God in the flesh and worshipped him. They followed a star, a light, that shone so bright that it beckoned them to follow and to believe. In my own journey, it is when I have been with Jesus that I have experienced a sense of peace in the turmoil, pain, and hurt. Jesus has been the light in my darkness. When I have felt overwhelmed and afraid, I have cried out the name of Jesus and knew He was beside me. I did not always feel His presence, but I always believed in His presence.
The journey into another year without your loved one may feel like walking into the darkness. You have made it through Christmas, but the thought of another year seems overwhelming and impossible at times. Do not look at the whole year, just focus on one day or one moment at a time. God gives us strength for one day at a time. When we look too far into the future, it becomes filled with anxiety because we see only our strength. God journeys with us in the present.
The wise men followed a star that led them to Jesus. They were searching for the king of the Jews and saw His star and followed it. They were searching for more in their lives. They were searching for purpose and meaning to life. They were searching for the one worthy of worship. Jesus is the light of the world, and the star reflected his light to the wise men.
In the darkness of grief, it is difficult to see light which reflects life and hope. The other night, when I laid my head on my pillow, the light of the moon shone directly on my pillow. It was like God shining His light of love and peace upon me. I thought about the wise men being guided by the star, and the light of the moon was my reminder that God is bringing light and hope into my darkness. I am not alone. The light of Jesus guides me each day.
As I journey into this new year, I am going a different way, but I am going to allow the light of Jesus to guide my path. Give yourself permission to go a different path. Remember, different is not bad, it is just different. Your life is different. It will never be the same, so doing the same things as you did in the past just brings an emptiness and sadness. So let us try a different way in 2022.
