As I write this, I am working from home so that my low energy and discomfort aren't shared with the people that I would meet on an ordinary day. It I s ironic to be writing about alertness while alternating between veging out to the drone of daytime television and being convinced by the dogs to just give in to the persistent temptation to nap.
Buen Camino, pelegrinos.
As pilgrims on the road, I am reminded of our adventure together by the Price Is Right's mountain climber (Yodel a he, yodel a he, yodel he who). The Lenten journey that we started last month has been a little surprising but I hope you are enjoying the adventure. Each week we have climbed a little further up the mountain of transformation. We decided our path by asking "what happens in church that would freak people out if it happened in Walmart?" It turns out that each of these odd traditions have transformation at their core. With each step we take, we climb a little higher (Yodel a he, yodel a he, yodel a he who).
Let us recall the Camino in mid trek. We started with the Peace of Christ. We learned that this is a peace of complete integration and wholeness. Tasting this peace is life changing. Giving this peace away changes us again. We explored fasting and learned that intentionally making space in our lives is spiritual exercise. We wrestled with confession and found that dealing with guilt and shame can lighten our load in life. We exposed the practice of intercessory prayer and learned that we can transform our relationships from comparison into compassion. If we look back, we have the opportunity to notice that we have come pretty far up the mountain.
Now it is time for alertness. On a journey like this, the view is constantly changing. In the movie "The Way" Martin Sheen's friends groused, " what is his problem?" sheen continued to press on with the mentality of completing a forced march. "Doesn't he ever stop to smell the flowers?" Staying alert is about smelling the flowers. God has been hard at work all this time. Each day is filled with the fragrance of God's love; the beauty of renewed creation, the healing power of supportive relationships. Have you taken time to notice these? Are you staying alert?
This Sunday we will be alert. We will awaken to moments that usually pass us by. We won't just see the gifts that are in our path, we will unwrap them as well. Until then, Buen Camino.
Enjoy God,
pg
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