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<h5 style="padding-left: 360px;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/txd/">txd</a></h5>
<strong>We just entered the church season of Epiphany, and guess what? I had an epiphany!</strong> How cool is that?

And how lame am I to be surprised when God speaks to me? Somehow I never expect it—I keep it all locked up in Bible times, with the prophets and saints.

Epiphany began yesterday, January 6. I "celebrated" by  maniacally taking down our Christmas tree, packing up the ornaments and putting the living room furniture back in its rightful place (all while drinking a beer and listening to very non-Christmassy music).

According to the most basic <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/epiphany">dictionary definitions</a>, the day celebrates the "manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi" or the three Wise Men. In its lowercase version, <strong>an epiphany is "a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience."</strong>

My epiphany today has to do with a significant, defining factor of the book I'm writing; the "commonplace occurrence" that sparked the epiphany was my struggle with "January blues."

<strong>The epiphany itself felt like a sentence delivered straight from God, into my entire being.</strong>
<h4>As usual, the dawn is preceded by darkness</h4>
I'm no expert in epiphanies, but I can say this: They are the brightest, most hopeful jolts of spiritual energy I have experienced. <strong>They scream "God is real! He knows you! He cares! He is in you and is guiding you, even when things seem most dark!"</strong>

Another thing I can say about epiphanies, based on my own limited experience, is that <strong>they tend to emerge out of our lowest, darkest places.</strong> Is that because when we hit those low places we stop trying to control everything, and we're more open to listening? Or maybe because God is patiently waiting for us to experience and learn what we need to learn, so we can be most receptive to what he wants to say?

I'm not sure, but I do know I was feeling very low and dark on Monday night. That mood led to a classic "why not—what do I have to lose?" attitude, which freed me up to write <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=551">this blog post</a> about my struggle with depression. <strong>It was that form of surrender that opened the flood gates of support and shared experience from others, which in turn opened up how I see myself and my life, which in turn led to my epiphany.</strong>

<strong>So take that, darkness!</strong>
<h4>What about you?</h4>
<strong>I believe there are epiphanies waiting for all of us.</strong> And don't worry—I also think there are other ways to open ourselves to them, besides hitting (or at least grazing) some kind of rock-bottom. For me, having a community and spiritual individuals to talk to helps a lot. My blog community really helped me open myself up this week. Conversations with my mom or Jason help, too.

If you don't have that kind of community right now, or even if you are feeling unsure about God, I have good news. My friend Rachelle Mee-Chapman (aka <a href="http://www.magpie-girl.com/">Magpie Girl</a>) has just started <strong><a href="http://flock.magpie-girl.com/">Flock</a>, a "soulcare safe haven" dedicated to “finding a spirituality that fits.â€ </strong>There are so many good things being offered at Flock, but my favorite is the opportunity to ask questions of the "dream team of  life coaches, spiritual directors, therapists, and more."

And guess what? <strong>Rachelle has given me a six-month membership to give away here at Halfway to Normal. </strong>All you have to do to enter in the drawing is to leave a comment on this post. Tell us about a dark place you know, or an epiphany you've had. Share how you think God speak to us, or maybe why you fear he doesn't. Just get your comment in by noon CST on January 14, when I will draw the name of a new Flock member.

(By the way, I've never done a giveaway here before, and I certainly don't plan to do many, but this opportunity seemed just right for so many of you. If you want to leave a comment but don't want to be entered in the drawing, just let me know.)

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