“No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to the King the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” (Daniel 2:27)

Have you ever wondered if anything you are saying is being heard? I remember my Mother often saying, “I am talking to a wall.”  Usually a brick wall. When I became a wife and a mother I finally understood, I was the wall she was talking to.

In the book of Daniel, we learn that after interpreting a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar, “He (King Nebuchadnezzar) made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.” Daniel and his friends continued to worship God in a godless culture. They always gave credit to God for their knowledge. They did not rely on magic, astrology, or sorcery to advance in the King’s courts.

I wonder if Daniel ever felt like my mother? Did he wonder if these wise men of the King’s listened to his stories? About this God who walked with them. About a child that would be born. A King that would one day rule in peace?

Daniel threw a pebble in the vast ocean of the Babylonian culture and it continued to ripple through generations of wise men. Until one day. Six hundred years later they looked up. Echoing through the years they remembered.

 “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” (Isaiah 9:2)

It was that shining light they saw and followed. It is estimated that the wise men, the magi, traveled for two years to their journey’s end. I have not always been a great traveler. When we would go to Indiana once a year from West Texas, it took a full day just to get out of the state. And another day to cross the remaining four states. Two days. Long days. Miserable days for my parents. I cannot imagine a two-year journey to worship a King you didn’t even know. Simply because one man told a story to your ancestors.

They chose to journey out of their dark land because they saw a light shining in the sky. They chose to journey over 600 days because of a 600-year-old story. They chose to journey to worship a King that would bring peace. These wise men chose to see beyond the boundaries of their own culture and beliefs. To put their hope in the Star of Bethlehem.

Do you feel the darkness threatening to overwhelm you? Have you lost all hope for brighter days? That light still shines for us today. The Star of Bethlehem, Jesus, still shines His light for each one of us. What may appear just a flicker of light, of hope, will only continue to grow. Light always, always overwhelms the darkness. Just keep moving.