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Epiphany: The Places Mothers call Home by Tice Cin
Epiphany - 6 January | |
The Places Mothers call Home Tice Cin is a Turkish-Cypriot writer and journalist based in North London. She is currently working on her first novel – a story set in Tottenham and Cyprus that explores the implications of defamiliarising fixed narratives. Tice recently completed her MA in English: Issues in Modern Culture at UCL, specialising in representations of the female body in posthuman literature. She is currently part of the poetry community, Barbican Young Poets and has had her work commisioned by St Paul's Cathedral previously for their Renaissance Lates and magazines such as Skin Deep Magazine. She has an Instagram page where she shares her work as it progresses: @ticecinwrites |
When he saw their fingers in the stars
They gifted the baby
Then, their dreams ringing with danger,
By way of the sea
Arriving safely,
Breaking bread beyond Bethlehem
Yet still language hung
Even the rain speaks in riddles.
Bethlehem of Judea.
Look inside the story:
After Herod’s death
Resting near their old home
He took his family to the hills of Galilee
The child tired from his path, |
Reflection
Travelling through Advent to Christmas and on to Epiphany emphasises the rhythm of time within us. We have been journeying from darkness towards
the light; still in the depths of Winter, we know the glowing promise of Spring is on the way.
As we step into the New Year, we read the story of the important Magi, visiting the infant Jesus and believing in his significance to the world. A
moment of meeting, acceptance of meaningful gifts; recognition, connection and anticipation.
The Holy family, unable to bask in this honour, find themselves forced into flight, leaving community, safety and comfort, driven by protective
instinct, on into the uncertainty of the future.
Yet this unknown is still part of the eternal story, patterns of history written into Scripture, the promise of identity, rescue and freedom. Did
they somehow understand that this was part of the plan of liberation for the world? Could they rely on the Lord of love to hold them close in His
arms?
Perhaps there was the echo of holy writing in their hearts: ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jer 29v11)
This baby marked out by heavenly constellation becomes himself the source of light. When we turn our faces into the light, we do not see the
shadows that fall behind us. In the brokenness of our past experiences and the anticipation of the year ahead, let us search for the precious gifts
imparted to us.
Perhaps then, we can move into the unknown, with the courage to look for evidence of promise in our lives and the hope that we will find mercy,
justice and strength along the way.
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