EPIPHANY

Heard a newcomer to recovery share the other day about his first sober holiday season. “Oh my God, it was HORRIBLE!” he heartily laughed. “HORRIBLE! No wonder we stayed blackout drunk the whole time!”

I laughed, too, for I knew exactly what he meant. In one way, life really is always kind of horrible, as in so seldom to our “specifications.” And then in another way, it’s always kind of great, if not glorious, precisely because it is so seldom to my/our specifications. Therefore, especially if you’ve been granted the wild, unmerited mercy of sobriety, you’re grateful, alwost always, no matter how horrible everything seems.

I have purchased a “global membership” to the Met Museum, which is for people who live more than 200 miles from New York and is therefore slightly discounted. This will help set my “vision” to spend more time in the city–I do plan to come back in the summer–and I am going to saunter up there today and spend some time exploring. Usually when I come it’s for a specific exhibit and as you may know, the place is simply gigantic. So I feel like I have a whole new resource and place of learning and sanctuary. I came across the Saint Nicholas of Tolentino painting above there last week, and the two below as well.

I’m deeply grateful for my warm coat and hat, as I walk quite a bit each day. Have attended Mass each day at St. Vincent Ferrer. They are having a solemn Epiphany Mass on Sunday with a Three Kings procession whatever that might be–I look forward!

Then I go to the Poconos for a couple of days, and then home, if all goes well, next Wednesday. Yet another huge trip that, again, will require processing.

Meanwhile, here’s a little video I worked up to celebrate the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12)! (They do this in hte Archdiocese of New York this year on Sunday, January 5, though it may be celebrated in other parts of the country or world on January 6(?)