We’re wired to wish for good things.  Ask any kid if they’re wishing for bad things for Christmas.

We would all go back to the Garden of Eden if we could.

We are all homesick for Heaven.

Utopia, Nirvana, one with the Universe, in a perfect world, “happily ever after”, good triumphs over evil… are expressions of our longing for happiness.  When we are young, we think we know how to get to that happy place.  We expect to find happiness by doing or having certain things. As we get older, a lot of those assumptions crumble.  Some older folks get cynical, some give up, some try harder, some recognize God in the shadows.

Jesus had a knack for shattering our expectations of how to get happy, but giving us deeper happiness his way.

Take his birth, for instance.  Foreign dignitaries invested two years and a small fortune to pay respects to a rising, powerful King.  They assumed they would find him at the provincial palace.  An unimpressive province, mind you.  But that dazzling star signified the birth of a most notable royal.  Why was the ruling king unaware of his successor?  Why hadn’t anyone heard of the momentous arrival?   It was odd that the residents didn’t know and weren’t excited to hear about their new king.  Why would pagan outsiders know before his own people?  As if the capital wasn’t disappointing enough, they were advised by some priests to try a backwater small town.

What must they have felt when the star reappeared unexpectedly and lead them to a peasants’ home?  When they found simple people with a playful toddler and no trappings of royalty?  Their camels and entourage must have caused a stir as they waited in the dark on a narrow street in front of the tiny house because there was room only for the royal astrologers themselves to enter and greet the child.  There must have been remarks among the servants as to the disappointing end of their journey.  But the wise men themselves were convinced when their eyes met His that their efforts had not been in vain.  They had looked past the unlikely appearances and wholeheartedly worshiped him, showering him with their generous gifts.  Besides, there had been the reappearance of that dazzling star. He had to be the One they sought.

And after they had passed the test of whether they would honor such a humble king-to-be, God directed them with special instructions on what to do next.  Run.  Run away from the evil ruler in the capital.  Nothing about their visit was as they had expected; not their destination, not the new king, and not their departure.  Yet, they recognized the King in disguise and went home fulfilled… and scared.  Went home looking over their shoulders in fear of retribution from a jealous ruler who commanded them to tell him where the Child was.  But, instead, they went the other direction as fast as they could.  No, nothing was what they had expected.   Yet their visit was the high point of their lives.  They had bowed down to the Child the stars had declared king; the child foretold by prophets, anticipated by generations, and destined for greatness.

Am I willing to accept the bumps in my road, the disappointments, the losses, the dead ends?  Can I believe my King knows best?  Can I move past my expectations and accept with patience and faith outcomes I wouldn’t have picked?  Can I keep the happy ending in mind when things are hard?  Not without help.  Thankfully I don’t have to muster up faith from somewhere inside.  It is a gift from the Supplier of all good things.

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men (Or royal astrologers; Greek reads magi) from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,

for a ruler will come from you

who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

After this interview, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.”  Matthew 2