The Story of the Other Wise Man

"You know the story of the three wise men of the East, and how they traveled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger cradle in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren in the presence of the young child Jesus? Of the great desire of this fourth pilgrim, and how it was denied, and yet accomplished in the denial; of his many wanderings and the probation of his soul; of the long way of his seeking and the strange way of his finding the One whom he sought - I would tell the tale as I have heard fragments of it in the Hall of Dreams, in the palace of the Heart of Man."

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Henry Van Dyke

Van Dyke (1852 - 1933), a clergyman, educator and diplomat, wrote numerous short stories as well as poetry. If not familiar with Van Dyke's works, many know a portion of his poem titled "Time Is" which was read at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales:

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity"

Story Synopsis

Van Dyke extends the story of the New Testament Magi to include a fourth wise man, Artaban. He sees the Star and sets out to join his three companions for a journey to Jerusalem to find the One prophesied of in the ancient Chaldean texts. Artaban sold all his possessions to buy three precious jewels to give the newborn Child, but he is delayed over and over in his decades-long search -- and chooses to use each jewel to rescue or help others.

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Wonder

Have you ever stood outside late Christmas Eve hoping to see a bright star in the night? On this year's winter solstice, December 21st, the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will appear in our night skies as an elongated star which is the closest, visible conjunction of these two planets since 1226 - some astronomers call this the 'Christmas Star' since the tale of the Star of Bethlehem could have been a planetary conjunction. Stargazers should be able to see the two planets now over the western horizon after sunset. The planets will rise higher over the horizon the closer we get to the solstice -- you might get to see the Christmas Star on Christmas Eve!

Young adult, 48 pages. Artaban, a priest of the Magi who was left behind by the Three Wise Men following the Star, spends the remainder of his life searching for the Anointed One.