additional epiphanies

Every year for a long while now, my home church in California celebrates epiphany in a beautiful way. Remembering that the kings were guided by a star, they choose a "star" as a guide for the year. These stars are simple paper cutouts with words written on them. Church members are invited to come forward and pick a star, and therefore a word, to guide them.

Each year, my mom picks a star for me. Each year the star/word has been a guide. It might seem silly or superstitious, but I don't think of it that way. Usually either right away or at some point in the year, the word has a guiding, comforting, inspiring or somehow helpful influence on me. I don't know how it happens, but it almost always does.

This year, she chose a star with the word, "delight". She sent me an email to tell me yesterday afternoon. Instantly when I read it, my soul said YES. I have been thinking about happiness and its sister, delight, for some time now. When my mom arrives here in a few weeks, she'll hand deliver it and I'll put the star on my fridge to guide me towards happiness throughout the year.