A Once In a Lifetime Day

Today is a special day for Kiam Moriya.  He’s a Birmingham boy who was born in Bronxville, N.Y, December 12, 2000.  And guess what?  He was born at 12:12 p.m.  So today Kiam will turn 12 on 12-12-12 at 12:12 pm! 

Today is a popular date for various events.  According to the American Academy of Wedding Professionals registries around the world are reporting an increase in the number of nuptials. Just like on 10-10-10 and 11-11-11, there will be concerts, celebrations, and attention paid to this unique date.

Numerologists find symbolism in the number 12 since there are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac. Of course, there are 12 inches in a foot, 12 people on a jury and 12 o’clock is midday or midnight.  Also did you know that you can take your thumb and count to 12 by touching the joints of your fingers?

There are the 12 days of Christmas, Shakespeare’s play The Twelfth Night, and 12 spokes in a cart-wheel.

If you are a Green Bay Packers fan, you know that quarterback Aaron Rogers wears number 12.  So Wisconsin state Legislature has designated 12-12-12 as Aaron Rodgers Day to honor last year’s MVP and  Super Bowl winner.

And here a little trick you can amaze people with.  For any kid born this century have them take the last two digits of their birth year and add their age and the answer will be 12!  If you were born in the 1900’s the answer will always be 112.

The Bible also has a lot of 12’s in it. There are the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 apostles and 12 foundations in the heavenly Jerusalem. Jesus was age 12 when he astonished the religious leaders in the temple.

The Old Testament speaks of 12 stones, 12 oxen and 12 cities.  Jesus spoke of 12 legions of angels, 12 thrones and had 12 baskets of left over food from his miracle of feeding the multitude.

I learned there is actually an organization celebrating this day as the “World Day of Inter-Connectedness.”  Their web site says, “On December 12, we invite people, organizations, businesses, and communities – fellow human beings around the world – to celebrate World Day of Inter-Connectedness. On this day, starting at noon in every time zone and continuing for 24 hours, let us together share one dream, one heart and one intention with an infinite variety of expressions.”

I don’t know about the theology of the “Inter-Connectedness” folks, but my dream, my  heart and my intention is to one day celebrate with the Lord in that city which has 12 gates, 12 pearls and 12 angels. Our spiritual and religious unity will occur when we listen to the Word of the 12 apostles!

Well, this is probably more than you wanted to know about the number 12!  But I thought we might have a little fun today.  Have a great day and enjoy this iconic day in history 12-12-12!

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman