It’s almost Epiphany

 I finally figured out how to post photos using blogger on my phone; they changed settings and it was a real fight to even get that Christmas tree photo posted.

But now it’s almost time to go back home.

I went to church up here with my mom today. They  have a fairly new minister; I liked his sermon today. Apparently some congregations have designated the Sunday right before Epiphany as “Star Sunday” and talk about the visitors to the Stable both highly placed (the Wise Men/Magi) and humble (the shepherds) and he emphasized that everyone has a “gift” they can give, even if all they have to give is being present.

He also sang “This Little Light of Mine” (and he doesn’t have a bad voice; it takes a certain courage to sing, completely acapella, without even a prompt note.

At the Communion table he had a box of stars (see below) and told us all to take one at random, without peeking. They all had different words on them and he suggested meditating on “yours” to see if it had something to say in the coming year 

I admit I thought I’d get something like “duty” or “moderation” or one of those resolution-words that might suggest my 2026 is just a year of digging in and existing, without a lot of personal fulfillment.

But I got

Yes, “art”

Which is interesting. I had expressed to a couple of friends that I had a vague plan for retirement of maybe doing classes in art of some kind - I think I would particularly enjoy learning again how to throw pottery on a wheel - or maybe something like landscape painting. 

I had also thought about how I always enjoyed art classes in school (but then, maybe all kids do?) and I remember way back, before I decided (at a depressingly young age) it would not be possible to make a living at it, that I wanted to be an artist. Even before I thought of teaching. 

Now, no, I am not going to quit my job to go to art school, but maybe if I have a chance to do something with art, I’ll try to take it.