Have you found your personal heaven?  This wise man found his priceless pearl,  his heaven when he visited the Christ Child. 

This article and song lyrics about this wise man was posted last Christmas.  Since then the song lyric has taken on a new life.  Composer Peter Link set the lyrics to music and Julia Wade recorded the song.  So here is a new posting of this expanded article, complete with audio and lyrics for you.  Just click the link! The brief biblical story of the wise men who appeared at the Nativity leaves the inquisitive mind with so many unanswered questions that it stimulates me to embark upon a journey into the imagination

The brief biblical story of the wise men who appeared at the Nativity leaves the inquisitive mind with so many unanswered questions that it stimulates me to embark upon a journey into the imagination.

We all love the story and as Julia set out to record it, her imagination took her to living this whole scene from the point of view of a wise one.  A wise woman? Perhaps!

You can decide!

But no matter what it is not very difficult to imagine the fervor in the soul of the wise one. We have all been there.  Anyone seeking the Christ in search of a better life has experienced this same determined heart.

So, let us imagine. Let us imagine that our favorite wise one of the three diligently studied the writings of the prophets which foretold the coming of a savior.  He, or she, perhaps, was totally engaged in searching for the signs that would tell when and where this savior would come. Ok, so she probably studied the skies each night and day, years before that wondrous night, meticulously logging drawings of the planets and stars.   It was as if she was searching for a glimpse of God through a window into heaven.  Finally, the day came!

The sign she had been searching for, the Bethlehem star, appeared!

The wise one leaped for joy and celebrated, then immediately began preparing for his trip to see this wondrous gift. She was ready to leave all: her career, her family, and all the comforts of home in search for her savior.

The hope of our wise one quickly became her shield as she journeyed through the sea of ridicule and criticism from friends, family, and acquaintances.  She already understood that those who laughed the loudest secretly harbored the faint wish that the savior she spoke of had come. After all, everyone desires a better life. 

The hope of the wise woman has been a cherished gift to the world that continues to bless mankind to this very day.

And so, the wise man, I’m imagining, began a journey that continued over several months.  Anyone who has been on a lengthy trip knows the challenges that travel can bring.  The wise one was traveling on her trusty camel through deserts, mountains, hills, and even occasional water. 

The wise one wearily wondered for a portion of the trip only hoping she was going in the right direction.  We can image that fear may have led her to stop and seek a material source for guidance.  But thankfully she turned her gaze upward and the star, maybe even brighter than before, joyfully guided her in the right direction.

It was a long, hard, trip but a power greater than the hardships bid her to come and behold the son of God. Finally, the star stopped its journey and the wise one climbed the last hill in eager expectation.  We’re imaging that she anticipated a King’s castle surrounded by a golden city, but as she topped the final hill she looked down upon the humble birthplace of the son of God.

Listen to the song “Heaven In His Eyes” as performed by Julia Wade:

Heaven In His Eyes
Lyrics by Dora Redman
Music by Peter Link
Performed by Julia Wade

The star hovered above a stable
And the light from the star lit up the space
I just stood there at a distance
Above this meek and lowly place
This wasn’t what I expected to find
And I wondered why the savior of mankind
Would come to us in this humble way
Just lying there on a mere bed of hay
 
But I saw heaven in his eyes
It’s not a distant place way up in the skies
Above the moon and stars
With pearly gates and streets of gold
And all the other wondrous things that I’ve been told
 
But much to my surprise
I found that heaven is within
It’s a home inside my heart where I’ve always been
And I carry it with me
Yes I carry it with me everywhere I go
Yes I found heaven
When I saw heaven in his eyes
 
So I stood there right there before the manger
Only stillness and calm could be found
Even though I’m called a wise one
I was too moved to voice a sound
 
Anticipation led me to my knees
And the sweetest of moments filled me with such ease
And lifted my perception so I could see
When the Christ child in delight turned to me
 
Yes, I saw heaven in his eyes
It’s not a distant place way up in the skies
Above the moon and stars
With pearly gates and streets of gold
And all the other wondrous things that I’ve been told
 
But much to my surprise
I found that heaven is within
It’s a home inside my heart where I’ve always been
And I carry it with me
Yes I carry it with me everywhere I go
Yes I found heaven
When I saw heaven in his eyes
 
Yes I saw heaven in his eyes
 

You can also listen, download and ship the song and its album — just click the image or click here.

© Copyright 2018 Clerk, Third Church of Christ, Scientist NYC