All is Folly

Journey of the Magi

Sleeping in snatches, with the voices ringing in our ears,

“This is all folly.”

In the last line of Sanza One, Elior concludes not with the physical difficulties the Magi encountered, but with their self-doubts. Just what was “all folly”? The travel itself, the promise of the Christ Child? The voice they heard directly contradicted the command the Magi had heard at the beginning of their quest, although the Bible makes no mention of such a command.

With pressure from his literary friends, a disastrous marriage to a dancer, Vivienne Haigh Wood, and a near nervous breakdown, Eliot might have had reasons to believe his conversion “All folly.” But like the Magi, Eliot did not turn back from his conviction but remained a Christian until his death.

The Christian walk is not always an easy one. John 16:33 makes this promise: “In the world, you have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” We have this assurance just as the Magi had the prophecies.

“Sleeping in snatches” was my usual nighttime pattern during the last nine months of my husband’s life. There was always some need of his that called me out of bed!

Reflection:

I never regretted accepting Jesus as my Savior, but there were plenty of times I wondered if I had the strength to finish my journey with an ill spouse. Did you ever feel God had called you to a task you were ill-equipped to handle?