An Airport Epiphany

I recently experienced an epiphany after an airport security line incident.  I was traveling with my wife and my two young children to Baltimore.  The Transportation Security Administration allows you to bring larger quantities of liquid for children through the security line.  We brought juice for our son to have on the plane.  My wife and I thought it would be cheaper to bring juice.  However, you have to go through addition screening.  I proceed to go through the metal detector and into that glass enclosed waiting area to be searched.

A TSA agent came over with two cloths to wipe my hands.  Gee, I didn’t know they were going to clean my hands!  Nope.  They swiped my hands for evidence of bomb making materials.  I watched as the TSA agent went over to a machine to analyze  the samples.  I heard the machine make some beeps, which didn’t good, and finally print out a report.

The TSA agent walked over and said, “Sir, do you take any medications?”

“Ah, well, not really.  Just some creams.  Maybe some over the counter stuff.”

“Sir, we found nitrates on you.” The TSA agent said sternly.  What the heck!  Nitrates!  The stuff that blows stuff up?  I looked over and saw two other TSA agents rifling through my bag.  Oh great!  I’m done for.  They are going to lock me away in a room without windows and question me for hours.  I’m going to miss my flight.

I almost came back with a joke: “It must be all those fireworks I have been shooting off.”  But, I didn’t.  I learned years ago NEVER joke about that stuff in a security line at the airport.  They take you seriously!

“Have you visited a hospital recently?” 

“Well, I’m a pastor and I regularly visit hospitals.”

“Often, people taking nitrate medications can impart nitrates on you.”  The TSA agent believed that I was a pastor, believed my story, and sent me on my way.  Relief!  But, nitrates?  I had not been in a hospital in about three weeks.  How could I get nitrate on me?  It was impossible! A true mystery.

A few days later, I went through my bag and was looking at an over-the-counter medication.  The second ingredient listed was, you guessed it, nitrate!  Ah ha!  That is why nitrate were discovered on me.  At that moment, it rocked my world because I was so ignorant. An epiphany.

Today, Christians all around the world celebrate Epiphany, which is the revelation of Christ’s birth and coming salvation to the Magi gentiles.   The word “epiphany” is defined as a “breakthrough” or transcendent awareness that engages the whole being in resonant connection bringing profound insight and truth.  Often we use the word “epiphany” as that “aha” moment when we are enlighten with some information or news.

Matthew records the visit of the magi.  Most people think the magi visited Jesus immediately following his birth.  But, actually the visit of the magi happened well after Jesus’ birth.  When we compare all the birth narratives of Jesus, we see that the magi fit towards the end of the Christmas story – up to two years later.  It was a common belief in the ancient world that when a king or ruler was born, there were signs in the sky.  The magi follow a star to find the infant Jesus and his family. The magi are summed by Herod, who most likely wants to kill Jesus, to find this King of the Jews.

Ignorant of Herod’s plans, the magi go and find Jesus.  However, Jesus is not in a manger, the NRSV and the NIV state it was a “house”.  This is how we know that magi visit is later in the Christmas story… much later.  Jesus was not found in manger.  Gifts are brought: Gold, frankincense and myrrh’ are three types of incense or gums that produced fragrant odors when burned.  All valued objects.

However, there is a deeper spiritual perspective in this story.  One that is often overlooked, or even missed all together.   The magi, Herod, Jesus, Mary, and the gifts often receive precedence in the story.  But, what the star.  Yes, the star, that led the distance visitors to Jesus?  What significance does the star hold?

Stars are an interesting occurrence.  Sometimes, stars can illuminate the sky so much that it can look like daylight.  Daylight, in the middle of the night.  Falling stars have a end point, but the star in our story stopped, and shone the way for the wise men.  It was a guiding star, never falling.

We are called to be light, a star to the farthest parts of the earth.  Just as the magi came from the far east seeking the star, we are called to proclaim the light, the star of Christ to all.  The magi saw the star at it’s rising.   Living a life that points to Christ, the Messiah.

We are called to be the rising star – rising, out of the darkness, to give guidance to the nations. To show the way to the messiah, the King of Kings.

How are you willing to be a guiding light?  A guiding star?  Are you prepared to take on what the magi had to endure?  Long journeys?  Unknown people?  Unknown reception?

May you, in this season of Epiphany be a star, a guiding others to Christ.  May you, encourage wayward believers to come back to the communal worship of God.  May you, be rising star… coming to bring the word of Messiah: to save all who accept the love of God.  May you, share the “ah ha” moment that is Jesus Christ.