King's Day

(courtesy: http://unmasking.blogspot.com/2009/11/learning-from-wise-men.html)

Recently I read a little gem of a Christmas story and wanted to share my feelings about it on this blog. However, already 2010, Christmas felt long past, so I hesitated. Then I realized that today is January 6th. Christmas isn't over yet! It's King's Day, the said day the Magi visited the Christ child, and the absolute perfect day to share thoughts on the book, The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke. The full text can be found here, but here is a brief summary.

Artaban, a Magi priest, leaves home in search of the new King, taking three precious gifts with him to give the newborn baby. On his journey he encounters people who desperately need his help and sacrifices the gifts meant for the Christ child to help the strangers in need. With only one gift left, a pearl, the Magian priest continues his search for thirty-three more years, never finding the King but continually helping the poor and lowly. Finally, Artaban, very old now, gives his last gift to a condemned slave buying her freedom. He has no more gift or hope of ever seeing the new king. As an earthquake begins to shake the earth, a large slab slams against Artaban's head. Artaban starts to die, and finally realizes a pearl of great price. Years before, Artaban had begun his search looking for the newborn king. Over and over he felt he failed his attempts. Alas, Artaban realizes in the end that through his efforts to help mankind and serve God by so doing, he had found his heart's desire. He had found the Christ.

Christmas ends tonight. At least by the calendar's date, and I've been a little melancholy. I spent the whole Christmas break sick with staph and pneumonia in total exhaustion, hardly having time or strength to get into the Christmas spirit. A couple days after Christmas, I read Dyke's story. The magi in the book demonstrates the true Christmas spirit, tho not just in December. He spent his whole life offering charity to those around him. Through the new year, I hope I can develop and keep this spirit of Christmas within my heart. Just because it is nearly midnight on January 6th, the Christmas spirit can live on.