Twelfth Night & Epiphany

The last day of Christmas is upon us, and once that happens I can finally admit and even welcome the new year. The last 12 months have been pretty incredible-it's easy to forget how much happens in just 365 days, but recently I'm finding myself thinking almost as much about the past as I am about the next year ahead. So much has happened...2010 was a year of healing, of remembering that I am passionate, remembering that I am a child of God, re-learning how to be that again like a newborn taking her first steps. I heard vibrato in my voice for the first time, I felt deeply, truly happy again, I learned that there are many different definitions of love in this crazy world. I've even learned to appreciate and value these differing definitions, all the while coming to understand and appreciate my own even more. In just one year I've graduated college, put on my senior recital, toured California with Westminster Choir,  sang at Spoleto for my last time as part of the Westminster community, been accepted into multiple exemplary graduate programs for early music, I sold my first car, packed most of my possessions away, and have embarked on the biggest adventure of my life thus far, fulfilling my lifelong dream of moving to England. 

Epiphany Times Three by Kathrin Burleson  [kathrinburleson.com]

And now here we are at the beginning of 2011...I have three graduate recitals to put on, and if all goes well then I will have my Masters degree in nine months. It's time to nurture this baby, and what better day to make this claim than Epiphany? The word literally means "to reveal." Today is a day to remember the arrival of the Magi, to reflect on their revelation that Christ was the new King. Long before He became what He was destined to be, this tiny baby was just lying there, but these Kings knew what He would one day be for the world.  And I'm left wondering what is my own epiphany for this year then? I think I know the answer. I spent the coming of the New Year with some of my most cherished friends, and as we caught up on the months that have passed since we last saw each other there seemed to be a theme of uncertainty amongst us all-each of us seemingly wondering what's next? But as I looked around I also found myself in the midst of amazing human beings on exciting paths...these friends I'm so blessed to call mine are unbelievably gifted musicians with beautiful spirits, and despite our increasing need to take naps in order to stay up late, we have so much life and energy. We find each other from all over the world, we climb snow-packed mountains together, and we dance even though we don't know how. I was afraid that it would be hard to go back to England after coming home, but I am so inspired right now, and I'm so ready to get back and take on the rest of my time in York. I sat late one night in New York City, looking across a table at one of the most amazing people in my life and I thought how awesome it is that he is pushing ahead and living a life uncharacteristically out of the limelight right now, while I believe with all of my being that he is destined for great things ahead. Not that I left behind gifts of frankincense or myrrh at his feet, but it's so wonderful to believe in something/someone and know it's real before it comes wholly to fruition, and I am so blessed to have that in my life, to be able to be a part of and watch these things play out for the people I love over the course of years. I am living in a small city in the north of England, but I'm starting to feel the stirring again of what's to come, and I can not wait to be swept up in whatever's next. God may be saying "not yet, Nia" but there is definitely something wonderful brewing. I can really feel life starting to take root and happen, for the ones I love and for myself...I wonder what this year will reveal, what I'm going to become...whatever it is, it had better be great.