epiph·a·ny
Pronunciation: i-‘pi-f&-nE
1 capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ
2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery b : a revealing scene or moment
On this day over two thousand years ago, (tradition holds) that the three Magi arrived at Mary and Joseph’s house to witness, first hand, the Christ child that had been foretold and looked for, year after year. They brought Him praise and gifts in acknowledgement of who He was and what He was to do. They joined together to bear witness to something wonderful that God brought forth upon this earth.
On this day four years ago, I stood quaking in my kilt awaiting my bride’s arrival at the head of the aisle. The door she passed through seemed miles away and, were it not for countless pictures, I would have no recollection of anything other than her smile as she serenely paced down the aisle, at her father’s side, to join me at the alter. Though her face was veiled, I could see that smile. And then we stood, in front of our friends and families who bore witness to something wonderful that God brought forth upon this earth.
I’m not trying to be sacriligious by drawing a comparison between Christ’s epiphany and mine, but I have marveled over the past four years about the timing of our wedding day. My wife and I had planned it for January 6th and, since neither of us come from a Catholic or Orthodox household, it never even occurred to us that it was the Day of the Epiphany. To this day, I stand in awe of the things God has blessed me with: bountiful material posessions, good health, a loving family, a good job, but none can hold a candle to the blessing that was (and is) my wife.
He revealed something wonderful to me that day. I barely recall the ceremony; the voices of my father and my wife’s pastor are a faint memory, the speeches given by my best man and her maid of honor are beyond my mental reach (sorry Brad!), yet I recall with great clarity thinking: This is it. This is for real! He revealed to me a woman to whom my life would be bound until I die. He revealed to me a level of beauty that I never knew existed.
Things have not been perfect and I hardly knew what I was getting in to that day, but I wouldn’t trade a minute of these years for the whole world. And the wondrous thing about it, about marriage, is that every day is a Day of Epiphany for me. Sometimes it only happens in hindsight, but each new day brings new things to light for me. As I get to know my wife better, I learn more about myself than I ever thought possible. I get to know God in new and different ways as I share in new troubles and pains, new pleasures and joys with the woman He blessed me with, the woman He revealed to me.
Happy anniversary, dearest. I love you madly.
Were you trembling in your kilt from the cold stones that were upon our arses just a few minutes before? And as for the speech, don’t worry, it only took me 6 months to write it just so that people in the audience were teary eyed. Ya big JERK! just kiddin, I just remember Amanda one upping me by crying and spilling punch everywhere.