For more years than I can recall I’ve traveled to northern New Mexico in the winter. Living in Houston for most of my life, I ached to see the changing of the seasons. The trips to New Mexico were originally during Advent, and they were full of serious preparing for Christmas which always included music and shopping and card making.

Over time, the trips changed. They moved from the season of Advent to Epiphany, and they became less of a vacation and more of a beginning of the year retreat.

I wasn’t able to travel to New Mexico last year due to the you know what so being back in Taos at the beginning of Epiphany, I am remembering why this annual retreat is important to my spiritual rhythm.

In harmony with my less young body, the days are slower, the walks are gentler, and I spend more time gazing and pondering.

My spiritual self is feeling a little frayed right now, and this retreat is a place for me to do some spiritual mending.

The prayer that continues to cycle into my heart is from Compline, the office that always comforts my soul.

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

As I flew with Advent music playing through my earphones, watching the sun rise outside my window, it was all Joy.

I’ve spent a week in Oregon with my Bend family. I was here to celebrate my grandson’s ninth birthday and had the added gift of being able to be here to be mom for my son’s surgery to set a broken bone from a mishap on our Cancun trip.

Since my son’s surgery was the same day as his son’s big #9 birthday, I was grateful to be able to care for him while his wife did the birthday party shuffle. Once our children age out of needing mom care, it is a Joy to be able to show love by fetching and being with.

Because of wind and snow, I stayed an extra day and had the Joy of a chill day with my family. We made gingerbread cookies, watched movies, and played games as the giant snowflakes blew down. What a Joy to be with.

The hospitality they offer is filled with Joy. My older grandson surrendered his room for me and bunked with his brother. My daughter in law prepared amazing meals with deep love each night, and she even made leftovers a celebration feast. Sitting with my grandsons in their room before bed, all of us reading our books, and then having night prayers together was a gentle way to end each day with. Joy.

On this third Sunday of Advent, my church is in the air. It is Gaudete Sunday, and after a week surrounded with the love of family, it is easy to rejoice.

I am full of Joy. From being with my family and always, with God.

I’m in the air again. Well. Not actually yet. I’m at the airport waiting to be in the air again.

Because it’s Advent. And it’s good to slow down and wait.

This waiting was a gift to me from the airport. The jetway broke and so all sorts of reshuffling had to happen.

But here’s the thing. In the hour wait, I was able to have a coffee, talk to a friend, and look around.

Advent colors abound. Which I would have missed. If I hadn’t had to wait.

While my family stays three more days in Cancun, I am on my way home. This time next week I’ll be flying home from my family Thanksgiving in Chambersville and the following week, around the same time, I’ll be flying to Oregon to celebrate Jonas’s ninth birthday.

Travel is back.

Mexico was very COVID safe and conscientious. There was required masking and lots of hand sanitizer, often with someone standing to spritz my hands before I entered one area or another. At least there was great masking by the Mexicans. Americans, not as much. We can do better.

I had to have yet another COVID test to leave the country. The timing was tied to my immunization status. Like the Faroe Islands, my test in Cancun was easy with quick results. In the US, not so much. We can do better.

The hospitality and warmth of the Mexicans I met were beyond gracious. I know that tourism is their number one source of income, but I suspect they might be as kind just because. I was also struck by how hard working every person I met was. I do wish we could work out our immigration system. I do wish we could be more welcoming, or at least more kind. I do wish we could be more welcoming of people who simply want to work and to work hard.

Next Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, I will join my friend Will Llana in the home of one of the Mexican immigrants in whose community (Plum Grove) he is planting a church. After my days in Mexico and the very little I experienced of the Mexican culture, I am looking so forward to beginning Advent worshipping with them. I’ve been told that the people who have made their home in this community are first generation Mexicans. Many have challenges with immigration and want to learn English.

I am curious. And prayerful.