Readings: Psalm 20; Isaiah 26:1-9; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
As the year creeps to a close, I imagine the anticipation of the Magi as they started to make serious ground on their journey towards the Christ child. As the Star felt nearer and nearer, they must have begun to sense the change in the 
world at the arrival of the god-man in the form of a baby. And with each step, they carried their gifts carefully towards the new King…one who would not sit on the throne of Rome or throw down the world powers…but the King who would show compassion, heal the lame, make the blind to see, and give all he had to give up until his dying breath to change the world.
Did they know all of that? Maybe.
Did they need to know? No
May the Lord answer you in times of trouble.
May the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from his Temple
and support you from Mount Zion.
May he remember all your offerings
and accept all your sacrifices. Selah (Psalm 20:1-3)
In the same way, Beloved Friend, you and I do not need to know all of the answers. We do not need to understand all of the mysteries of how God works in the world. We do not (and will never) have all of the answers for ourselves and we sure as rain in Seattle, do not have all the answers for others.
So what do we do?
I suggest we walk/ride/bike each step of our journey with the anticipation of good things to come. And that even as we face the unknown, we do it with joy. With each step, let us carry our gifts, given to us so specifically by the God of the Universe, carefully and use them well…and by well I mean OFTEN, OPENLY, and WITH ABANDON!
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:20