For Christians around the world, Jan. 6 is Epiphany. Sometimes called the “Day of the Kings,” Epiphany recalls the visit of the magi to the Christ child. It’s a holy day reserved for peaceful reflection and worship. But for most Americans, this day is a day we would rather forget. It’s a sad day for our nation.

The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “an illuminating discovery.” As we watched the horrific images unfold in our nation’s Capitol we made an illuminating discovery. Our political divisions are deeper than most of us could have imagined. It is hard to believe that what we were watching on big screen televisions was taking place in a country that prides itself on law and order.

My thoughts raced back to my last visit to Washington, D.C., sixteen months ago. I had the privilege of chaperoning one of our assisted living residents who was a Korean War veteran. Together with other members of the Puget Sound Honor Flight delegation, Zip and I visited the World War 2 memorial, the Korean memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. We also spent a protracted period of time at the Lincoln Memorial.

As I digested the events of this unforgettable day, I couldn’t help but picture Mr. Lincoln seated on his marble throne. He faces the Washington Mall and the unrestrained rioting taking place at the U. S. Capitol Building. Imagining our revered leader viewing the chaos, I wrote…

From where Abe sits

he has an unobstructed view of our democracy.

The war memorials in his line of sight

picture the priceless cost of freedom.

The Washington Monument

elegantly points toward a God

who has repeatedly blessed our undeserving nation.

At the end of the mall

our beloved Capitol stands tall

shimmering in the sunlight

hovering over a nation

known by law and order.

But today our sixteenth President

winces in pain

as he witnesses a scene

familiar to other regimes

throughout history

but foreign to our beloved land.

Insurrection some have called it.

A dereliction of civic duty and patriotic pride.

A disgrace unbecoming law-abiding citizens

who have forgotten their heritage and pledge.

Such wanton madness is applauded by extremists

and quietly supported by those who set the bait

and cowardly watch from palatial venues of power.

What Honest Abe sees causes him to weep.

Such a dishonest distortion

of First Amendment rights

is nothing short of wrong.

Lord, have mercy!

–

Guest columnist Greg Asimakoupoulos is chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores in Mercer Island.

Courtesy of Greg Asimakoupoulos

Zip and Lincoln. Courtesy of Greg Asimakoupoulos