Final Day

Time to hit the road once again, sadly. Lots of layers of sadness driving off before dawn.

The pre-dawn sky soothes the soul. 

The dawn sky astounds the soul!

Best intentions to return home with little more than I brought with me, always seem to go awry. Once again the return drive to the airport required a mailed-home package(s) stop at the Santa Fe post office. I view this as having supported the local economy. 

The trip is almost full circle as we return to Iconik for cuppas. 

This Advent trip was filled with twists and turns. Some expected and others unexpected. I believe each twist and each turn added layers to my experience of this time and place.  I shall return. 

Almost but not yet. 

A p.s. to "almost but not yet". My flight home departed on time, then returned to the airport after flying 30 minutes. Mechanical troubles. Now 5 hours later, flying to Atlanta. 

Almost home, but not yet. 

Traveling mercies. 

At last the view of Atlanta as the plane descended. 

Guided by the light of a candle,

and greeted by the light of my forest all lit up, I turned into my drive a few hours later. So grateful for my Advent travel and now to be safely home. 

Day 5 continued

Lunch at the Rancho with Sue, of Sue's eggs fame, was delicious.  The delicious part was more the reunion of a long time friend, than the food. Well, except for the sopapillos. Yum.

Driving the High Road to Chimayo and back to Taos is always a visual feast. High mountain snow, vistas that go on forever, and many small villages- most with pretty little churches. 

Home for the last night of casita living. Requisite fire, sustenance, a great movie, then packing up. 

Ahhhhhh.

Day 5

Greeted this day by sun and cold in the same breath. 19 degrees outside, a fire inside, and the sun beginnig its work of warming the day.

This last full day brings reunion with an old friend. Annually we dine at Los Rancho de Chimayo, where we report on the past year and marvel that a past year has once again occurred. 

Much of the richness of this northern New Mexico Advent travel are the reunions of old friends. Three extraordinary women who have enriched my life. 

I've learned that one of these friends has only months to live. Heartbreaking news. But in the midst of this reality, we have found deeper conversation, and the truth of knowing my time this time is finite. 

Oddly, that is a gift.  Another already but not yet. 

Day 4 continued

Today ended up filled with adventure. 

For two years I've wanted to hike along the Rio Grande Gorge south of Taos. I had been told by a Forest Service person that there was a bench at the end of the La Vista Verde trail. It overlooks the Rio Grande hundreds of feet below. 

After lunch of blue corn cheese enchiladas (what else?) and ice cream, we were ready to drive south about 20 miles and then another 11 meandering miles along the river to the trailhead. 

2 1/2 miles in and out. 3pm we hit the trail. About 50 yards in, we encountered three Big Horn Sheep. Just 30-40 feet away. 

Amazing!

We made it to the bench in about 45 minutes. 

Awesome. 

We didn't linger because it was now nearing 4pm and the sun had drifted behind a mountain. Power-hiking on the return (my imagination ran away with me and I saw us spending the night on the trail, rationing our water, so cold the sheep came to snuggle). We shaved 15 minutes off the return. Whew!  

Driving back to Taos we were treated by a typical New Mexico sunset. 

The reward for the effort. 

Day 4

At last!  A real sunrise. The clouds have moved out so we could have this display.

19 degrees this morning. That calls for a fire of course. 

By necessity we created cinnamon toast our first morning. And each morning since, the day begins with cinnamon toast. Made from local bread, melted butter, raw sugar and superior cinnamon, it's a wonderful way to start the day. 

Necessity came about because of an ant invasion that wiped out ginormous cinnamon rolls brought from Iconik coffee. 

We believe the cinnamon toast created out of necessity is far better than the cinnamon rolls would have been. 

I'm thinking this morning about provision.  Tossing the ants out the door on flying cinnamon rolls, the question was "now what shall we eat?"

Looking around the kitchen we found all we needed to create the best cinnamon toast ever!  There's a message here, I believe. When we wonder how, we find God's provision for us.  

 It begins with cinnamon toast. 

Day 3

I Awoke this day to 21 degrees!  Brrrrr. 

Time for a fire. One of my favorite things to do in this Casa. 

Felled, but not quite, by a bad cold, I now have enough "few minutes" to ponder and reflect. 

Advent. R Alan Woods says "the kingdom of God is the already, but not yet".  Reginald Gunn+ in his sermon last Sunday used these same words. So now they have my attention. 

How to make sense of already but not yet?  

I'll be pondering  this as I run out to get my cuppa and the New York Times. Priorities.  

Now bolstered by chicken soup, tortilla soup, and a nippy-nap, I am definitely more better. 

Now the light of this day is fading.  

I'm circling back to my earlier pondering. 

Traveling intentionally during Advent to a place of quiet, both in color and in sound, I seek clarity of my faith and my purpose. 

Already and not yet. I know Christ has come just as I know I am preparing for his coming. Similarly I know I have faith, yet I am a work in progress on the faith scale. 

I have been called to special work in my parish, and it turns out this has been a challenge to faithfulness. To my certainty. Already and not yet. 

Day 2

Many years ago, I participated in a quinceañera, the celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. It's a big deal in the Latino community. 

The event was to begin promptly at 4pm at the Episcopal church. Everyone knows how prompt Episcopal services are. Not this one. Guests, and even the quinceañera girl, trickled in. The excuse: "too few minutes". 

That's how I feel this morning as I greet this new day of Advent in Taos. 

I'm on retreat, but there is so much I want to do. I suppose retreats can be filled with activities. 

Hikes. Movies. Massages. Shopping. And, of course, blue corn enchiladas. 

And cuppas. 

Now this day, this moment, I will stop and ponder what God is telling me, what God is showing me for how I am to walk forward. 

Too few minutes for play. Never too few minutes to listen. To hear. 

"Let my soul be greening with the living light".  Hildegard of Bingen. 

Day 1

Atlanta's Hartsfield airport. 120 miles and 2 1/2 hours from home. 

Another 1/2 hour to park, shuttle to the airport, go thru security. TSA Precheck makes this last step a breeze. 

Then off to find Starbucks, walking to its location in another terminal, getting my steps in. 

In just a matter of a few hours I shall be way beyond this hustle and bustle, to the land of enchantment, and for me, rest and retreat. 

Delta Airlines is offering $1,300 Delta dollars to 12 individuals willing to be put up in a hotel tonight and travel tomorrow morning instead. Not me!

I was "gifted" the prayer below last night from a dear friend and fellow seeker. 

"If there is righteousness in the heart,
there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character,
there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home,
there will be order in the nation. 
If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace in the world.
So let it be"
—Scottish Blessing

A wonderful send-off!

And now I am back. 

Advent Return to Taos

It's time.
Actually, it's past time in my heart and in my soul.
Each Advent I journey to Northern New Mexico- to Taos.
Travel is later this year than in years past, and I'm longing to get going.

Interesting to think how I want time to hurry up so I can get to Taos to slow down.

Today, in my head I have been picturing the landscape outside the airplane window as the plane descends to its landing in Albuquerque.  I know it by heart because for seventeen years I have taken this journey.

Just now reading the Thought for Today from Iona Books, I'm reminded 
                  "Jesus calls us 
                   To travel lightly
                   JESUS CALLS US
                   TO FAITH". Ruth Burgess, from Growing Hope

I shall travel lightly, both in carry-on luggage only, but in my soul as well -- as I turn from those pieces in my life that give me burden, and instead turn to a time and place that give solace to my soul.