The children in a small Sunday School were putting on the annual pageant. A small girl was chosen to be all the Magi. They practiced and practiced until everyone had the story ready to perform for the whole congregation. When it came time for the Magis' entrance - she majestically swept up the aisle - draped in all the jewels from many garage sales and robes of bits and pieces of all the fine fabrics collected from the remainders box at the local discount store. Pausing and bowing before the infant's crib she announced, "Greetings, baby, I bring you gifts. Gold, Circumstance, and Mud."(1)

Now, ain't that the truth! That is exactly what life brings us. Some "gold" - not just money, but the precious moments we occasionally encounter; circumstance - lots of that, and most unpredictable; and …