Some months ago I happened to be a short drive north of Toronto and on a whim decided to enter a thrift store there. Among the many usual worn-n-torn books there I found a handful of interesting ones from the late 19th to the early 20th century. This book was one of them.
We have been brought up with the Bible story of the Three Wise Men (or Magi) of the East, how they traveled from far-away countries to search for and offer their gifts to the new-born King at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But I have never before heard the wonderful story of the Other Wise Man, the fourth one from the order, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it. He, however, did not arrive with his brethren to greet the baby Jesus. This book provides a beautiful, engaging, thought- and emotion-provoking account of Artaban's journey from his land of the Magi to Bethlehem, then to Egypt, then back to Jerusalem.
He meets many a hardship on his journey, but the real challenges are those of decision. Decision between his unwavering commitment to find the King and his obligations as a caring, loving human being. While on his search for the King, he is presented with three major challenges, temptations if you will. In each he has to choose between helping a fellow suffering human being at the cost of always having to give up a portion of what he was to offer as gifts to Jesus. He chooses humanity. Compassion always wins over his determination to offer the rich gifts to the King.
Every step of his journey is bringing him closer to finally meeting the King while driving him into desperation that he will have nothing to offer as gift to Him.
As I would like you to read the story, I will not ruin it for you. Let's just say, the book teaches us about the paradox of having to give up all we want in order to gain what we truly need.
We have been brought up with the Bible story of the Three Wise Men (or Magi) of the East, how they traveled from far-away countries to search for and offer their gifts to the new-born King at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But I have never before heard the wonderful story of the Other Wise Man, the fourth one from the order, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it. He, however, did not arrive with his brethren to greet the baby Jesus. This book provides a beautiful, engaging, thought- and emotion-provoking account of Artaban's journey from his land of the Magi to Bethlehem, then to Egypt, then back to Jerusalem.
He meets many a hardship on his journey, but the real challenges are those of decision. Decision between his unwavering commitment to find the King and his obligations as a caring, loving human being. While on his search for the King, he is presented with three major challenges, temptations if you will. In each he has to choose between helping a fellow suffering human being at the cost of always having to give up a portion of what he was to offer as gifts to Jesus. He chooses humanity. Compassion always wins over his determination to offer the rich gifts to the King.
Every step of his journey is bringing him closer to finally meeting the King while driving him into desperation that he will have nothing to offer as gift to Him.
As I would like you to read the story, I will not ruin it for you. Let's just say, the book teaches us about the paradox of having to give up all we want in order to gain what we truly need.
