Second Monday in Advent: Be

The Society of St. John the Evangelist word today is. BE.

A good word as I leave from retreat mode, travel on planes from Santa Fe to Denver, stop awhile, then travel from Denver to Redmond, Oregon, hoping to be in Bend for Jonas’ 3rd birthday hug in the morning.

My retreat Sunday was a glorious day in God’s beauty hiking, drawing, picnicking, labyrinth walking, and celebrating Holy Eucharist with a mountain view.

Packed up, I’m enjoying a final scone and coffee at Iconik in Santa Fe. Last minutes of retreat and quiet being before the delightful grandma shuffle being begins.

Be: Contentment is more about being than about doing, or acquiring, or mastering, or craving, or searching. Contentment is about being satisfied given the limitations of our present life.

-Br. Curtis Almquist

Second Sunday in Advent: A priest on retreat

These annual Advent trips to New Mexico began as vacations. They have transformed into retreats. They are a rhythm to begin the new liturgical year–full of possibilities and surprises.

I’ve been to retreats in monasteries, in people’s homes, churches, camp sites. I’ve attended as a retreat leader and facilitator and as a participant. I’ve been on silent retreats and retreats that involved praying through community art. I’ve been on business planning meetings that were called retreats that were really work.

These Advent retreats in New Mexico have a Benedictine flavor. They are an opportunity for a mindful balance of prayer, reading, walking, conversation and listening, friendship, play, eating, and, always, possibilities and surprises.

There are fires and hot coffee and tea. There are skies that offer a variety of ever-changing messages throughout today.

This is the Sunday of my retreat. A rare day to cease to work and to be. Having been able to stay out late on Saturday night enjoying a four hour dinner with friends, I allowed the sun to wake me up this morning.

Now I am off to the Wild Rivers wilderness to hike and pray and have Communion.

Possibilities and surprises.

First Saturday in Advent: Healing

The day before Thanksgiving, I woke up with a cold. I started taking zinc and echinacea and drinking lots of water, and tried to not share the cold.

I never felt terrible, but as is the case with colds, I was slowed down. A week later, now in New Mexico, I still had symptoms and the high altitude and dry air didn’t help.

I always seem to be seeking some sort of healing, if not body, then mind and/or spirit, during my Advent retreat. I was right on task.

I’ve been mindful of the slow healing process of this cold–a small bit better everyday. I’ve been mindful of all the pieces of this healing process

People have prayed and I am so grateful for those kind prayers. Healing.

I’ve had times of silence and rest. Healing.

I had a wonderful massage, and Bonnie did all sorts of healing touch that did wonders with my breathing. Healing.

Yesterday I took one of my favorite hikes that leads to a spacious overlook of the Rio Grande Gorge. Though I found myself feeling a bit winded from time to time, the beauty was worth every step.

Afterwards, as I sat with a cappuccino and pumpkin shortbread in front of a fire in a gallery that housed a local weaving exhibit, I realized how much better I felt after taking those sometimes challenging steps. They, too, had also been part of the healing process.

I’m still getting the last symptoms expunged. Step by step. Prayer by prayer. Resting and waiting. Sometimes challenging.

I pray the same for all seeking healing. Step by step. Prayer by prayer. Resting and waiting. Sometimes challenging. AMEN

First Friday in Advent: Worship

As a person paid to lead worship, I’ve thought an awful lot about what worship means. At the heart of worship, for me, is that it’s all about God. Worship has a sense of intentionality and presence.

Every morning of the Advent retreat begins with enjoying the wonder of the day’s unique gift of sunrise.

A moment to give thanks to God. Worship.

My friend builds a fire, and on the couch before the hearth, we sit mainly in silence with our coffee, reading, writing, photographing, pondering, praying. Worship.

One of the biggest decisions to be made on the Advent retreat is where worship in community will occur. It should be a given: whatever Episcopal Church is closest, but for some reason, having this rare opportunity for choice makes it a place for me to reflect on what worship is, and not being alone, my friend’s thoughts are part of the conversation, too.

Being intimately involved in all the twists and turns of the Church, I am aware what an imperfect vessel we the Church are. It, frankly, can be a distraction. I am thankful to be reminded this cold Advent morning that worship is not about me, ever, but always about God.

For today, I will think on Psalm 96. I will worship God in the beauty of holiness and, for now, that is enough.