Henry Van Dyke's story of the fourth wise man has been a favorite of mine since I first read it as a young child in my parents' home. Tonight, after our annual trip to see "Bethlehem Revisited" in Waxahachie, Texas, I remembered the story. I was able to find it on my smartphone (they aactually are useful once in awhile) and read the story out loud to my family on the way home.

As I ended the reading, and after a moment of reverent silence, my teenage daughter quietly said, "I didn't see that coming." Neither did I the first time I read it, and many decades later I still thrill to the ending lines about the dying Artaban:

"Then the old man's lips began to move, as if in answer, and she heard him say in the Parthian tongue:

"Not so, my Lord! For when saw I thee an hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw I thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? When saw I thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? Three-and-- thirty years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered to thee, my King."

"He ceased, and the sweet voice came again. And again the maid heard it, very faint and far away. But now it seemed as though she understood the words:

"Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me."

"A calm radiance of wonder and joy lighted the pale face of Artaban like the first ray of dawn, on a snowy mountain-peak. A long breath of relief exhaled gently from his lips.

"His journey was ended. His treasures were accepted. The Other Wise Man had found the King."

May the same be true for all seekers of truth!