Epiphany

If you find predictions for the New Year tedious, here’s a consolation: forecasters have often been wrong.

The Marquis de Condorcet predicted in 1783 there would be fewer revolutions.   He found out how dead wrong he was 10 years later: when he died in his prison cell during the French Reign of Terror.

Or water well drillers questioning an entrepreneur in 1859 about drilling for oil?  “Drilling to find oil? You're crazy."

Or Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, announcing in 1943: "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."

 Or Ken Olson, founder of Digital Equipment, pronouncing in 1977: “There is no reason anyone would want a computer at home."

Or “The Wizard of Oz,” playing January 11 at theatres around the country.  The original run time was predicted to be too long, so a song was cut at some previews. That song was Somewhere Over The Rainbow.  Fortunately, after debates, MGM left the song in.    

So much for predictions.

Mantegna's  Adoration of the Magi

We celebrated the Epiphany, the showing forth of the child Jesus to the magi. They came from far away, guided by a mysterious star, a sudden illumination of wisdom. Jesus, the light who illumines our darkness, is for all people, Jews as well as non-Jews.

And so, I begin 2015 discerning a variety of everyday behaviors to manifest the glory or presence of God.  Here are a few, from a friend doing humanitarian work in the middle-east:

The greatest Joy............................................Giving
Our greatest natural resource.....................…Our young people
The greatest "shot in the arm" ..................….Encouragement
The most effective sleeping pill.....................Peace of mind
The most powerful force in life.................….Love
The world's most incredible computer.....…..The brain
The worst thing to be without.....................…Hope
The two most power-filled words..............…"I Can"
The greatest asset.........................................…Faith
The most beautiful attire..............................…SMILE!
The most prized possession.....................……Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication...Prayer
The most contagious spirit.........................…..Enthusiasm

Accentuating the positive, I predict a joyful year.