My Christmas trip to Oregon was delayed due to a case of COVID in my Bend family. After celebrating Eve of the Feast of the Incarnation at St. Paul’s, Navasota (I’ve been there so often that it always feels a bit like going home to family), the first three days of Christmas were spent quietly at home.

Quiet Christmas days can be a gift. I had three slow days (a luxury for all clergy during high holy days).

It also gave me more time to process this new chapter in my life.

I told my Chambersville family when I left them last week that I was going home to write my Christmas sermon, and they asked if I didn’t have an old Christmas sermon I could recycle. Truth is, every sermon I’ve ever preached is tucked somewhere in my spirit; however, I rarely can recall what I preached. The other more important piece is that no two gathered communities are the same, and every sermon is a new beginning as I pray deeply about what God wants me to say to that unique group of people.

I loved revisiting Luke 2 for the gazillioneth time. I always anticipate what little gem that God will reveal. I won’t rewrite the sermon here, but I did hear two invitations in the Gospel:

Like Mary, we are to pause and ponder what God is doing in our lives.

Like the shepherds, we are to share God’s good news of love among us with a world that is yearning to know that love.

I’m taking those as my two invitations during the twelve days of Christmas.

Christmas flight rebooked, I’m now on my way to Oregon for the fourth day of Christmas. I’ve had time to create a new Christmas playlist.

Gently, I’m going as slowly as I can so as to not miss what God is doing.

With curiosity, I’m looking for those invitations to share God’s love.

Enough can be expressed in two ways:

Enough! with an exclamation mark meaning to stop, with a sense of irritation or frustration or even anger.

Then there is enough. followed by a period, meaning a sense of satisfaction, sufficiency, completeness.

Though these days before Christmas can too often feel like the former Enough!, for today I am sitting with the latter enough.

Some folks like to talk about abundance, which is a good thing, I prefer to set my heart on enough. There’s a sense, for me, of not too much and not too little. It feels, for me, like a perfect amount. Enough to share. Enough not to waste.

I’ve had a little bit of a grieving this past week as I finally closed down all my work connections (new phone, new computer). The team hosted my retirement party on Wednesday, and I was so very glad to be with those friends. My heart was filled with their thoughtfulness as we shared treats and laughter and painted pottery. Enough in the sense of satisfaction.

I am on the road via a flight yet again. I’m on my way to see my family in Chambersville with a suitcase full of Advent presents. Enough.

The airport is crowded with families traveling, and this third Sunday of Advent offers many opportunities to pause and pray. Time enough.

And so as I sit awaiting what is next, particularly any surprise travel always holds, I will ponder today’s beauty-ful O Antiphon:

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God,

you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care:

Come and show your people the way to salvation.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Home for one day, and I am on the road, that is, in the air again. This time, I am flying to Oregon for my grandson’s #11 with the bonus of my other grandson’s band concert while I’m in Bend.

This first week of Advent, Dd is for Delight.

I could have this trip paired with my New Mexico trip because, oh yes, I’m retired.

I’m on a two hour pause at the Denver airport between flights. The Denver airport has a wonderful outside deck. I’d packed my coat, so I was imagining a quick outside peek before waiting inside where it’s warm. Except.

They have fires on the airport deck, and it’s toasty warm! Or at least warm enough.

Delight!

Awaiting my flight.

Pausing by a fire. Surprise!

Remaining with sunset beauty.

Advent blue lights illuminate the runways. Delight upon delight.

If you are following this blog, you may have picked up that I am going through an alphabet phase.

Aa is for Advent

Bb is for Beauty.

All pondered from my Advent context words of await, pause, beauty, remain, surprise.

My best traveling friend and I have had an ongoing dialogue about what the Advent Cc should be.

On this eve of the first Sunday in Advent, here are some places to pause with our letter Cc.

Cc is for coffee (and golden milk) every morning at Coffee Apothecary. Pause.

Cc is for centering prayer each morning, candle lit, Advent blue. Await.

Cc is for cinnamon toast every morning in front of the fire. Remain.

Cc is for companionship and chocolate cake in the evening. Surprise.

Cc is for cold and crisp on a snowy midday. Beauty.

Cc is for chili, of course. And a new Aa is for Advent word, delicious.