Today I’m hosting the the Holy couple from the Posada Chainblog. Read more on the tradition of posada. Yesterday the Holy Couple were visiting Ian Mobsy at Mootblog and tomorrow they will be looking for somewhere to stay at Chelley at Chelley’s Teapot.
We had taken one of our road trips, driving the 667 miles from Dallas to Taos, NM. When we were first married, my wife and I had the wanderlust bad - we'd drive or fly anywhere just to discover new places and live a gypsy life. The 12 hour drive to Taos was a trip we had taken many times. This particular trip took place just before Christmas.
That evening, we set out to see the Rancho de Taos church, made famous by Georgia O'Keefe in a gorgeous painting. We got there just as night fell, the crisp air turning cold. We stumbled around the building, taking photos with a drug store camera in hopes of capturing it's magical shape.
As we walked back to our car, we saw a parade. Yes, that is a right. A parade. Like any self-respecting gypsy, we joined the parade. We wound our way thru that small community, humming along to their songs and listening to the mysterious words they spoke. All they said & sang was in Spanish - we could make out Jesus & Maria, as well as a sense of a search for a safe place.
After about 20 minutes of the parade, something quite unexpected happened. We joined the group. Let me be clear - we did not speak in their tongue, nor did we cross the cultural divide that was clear in just looking at us. But the journey became shared - we knew that we were united in searching for a safe place for Jose & Maria, our steps were along the same path of searching & re-membering.
I'm not quite sure how long the parade went on after that - it may be 40 minutes or a lifetime. I lost track of time, in the way you do when you are making love or watching a child play the violin or sitting with a friend as they die. I'm sure I was wearing a watch, but that did not matter - marking this moment by time was far beyond the point.
Somehow, we ended up at the community hall attached the gorgeous church. Our fellow travelers offered us the chance to share in their feast - we ate tamales, green & red chile & the most incredible pan. If I am not mistaken, I ate half my body weight that night in pan alone.
I have read & heard many lectures & sermons on hospitality - some suggest it is the core characteristic of what the reign of God is all about. I am no theologian, nor do I preach much any more, but this I know - God came to Mary searching to welcome Him into her body, then Mary & Joseph were searching for kindness in welcoming them as guests.
That magical evening in Rancho de Taos, we lived a bit of that search & that welcome. There is song Pidiendo Posada often sung at these celebrations - it captures some of what we experienced:
Entren, Santos Peregrinos,
reciban este rincón,
que aunque es pobre la morada,
os la doy de corazón.
Enter, holy pilgrims,
receive this corner,
for though this dwelling is poor,
I offer it with all my heart.
I have two reflections to share:
We had taken one of our road trips, driving the 667 miles from Dallas to Taos, NM. When we were first married, my wife and I had the wanderlust bad - we'd drive or fly anywhere just to discover new places and live a gypsy life. The 12 hour drive to Taos was a trip we had taken many times. This particular trip took place just before Christmas.
That evening, we set out to see the Rancho de Taos church, made famous by Georgia O'Keefe in a gorgeous painting. We got there just as night fell, the crisp air turning cold. We stumbled around the building, taking photos with a drug store camera in hopes of capturing it's magical shape.
As we walked back to our car, we saw a parade. Yes, that is a right. A parade. Like any self-respecting gypsy, we joined the parade. We wound our way thru that small community, humming along to their songs and listening to the mysterious words they spoke. All they said & sang was in Spanish - we could make out Jesus & Maria, as well as a sense of a search for a safe place.
After about 20 minutes of the parade, something quite unexpected happened. We joined the group. Let me be clear - we did not speak in their tongue, nor did we cross the cultural divide that was clear in just looking at us. But the journey became shared - we knew that we were united in searching for a safe place for Jose & Maria, our steps were along the same path of searching & re-membering.
I'm not quite sure how long the parade went on after that - it may be 40 minutes or a lifetime. I lost track of time, in the way you do when you are making love or watching a child play the violin or sitting with a friend as they die. I'm sure I was wearing a watch, but that did not matter - marking this moment by time was far beyond the point.
Somehow, we ended up at the community hall attached the gorgeous church. Our fellow travelers offered us the chance to share in their feast - we ate tamales, green & red chile & the most incredible pan. If I am not mistaken, I ate half my body weight that night in pan alone.
I have read & heard many lectures & sermons on hospitality - some suggest it is the core characteristic of what the reign of God is all about. I am no theologian, nor do I preach much any more, but this I know - God came to Mary searching to welcome Him into her body, then Mary & Joseph were searching for kindness in welcoming them as guests.
That magical evening in Rancho de Taos, we lived a bit of that search & that welcome. There is song Pidiendo Posada often sung at these celebrations - it captures some of what we experienced:
reciban este rincón,
que aunque es pobre la morada,
os la doy de corazón.
receive this corner,
for though this dwelling is poor,
I offer it with all my heart.
In thanksgiving for this & for the journey of the Holy Couple throughout our lives, here is a video meditation:
Follow the Holy Couple as they travel through the blogosphere:
Mon 4 Dec Chris Munroe aka Desert Pastor.
Tue 5 Dec Jem Clines
Wed 6 Dec Alistair
Thu 7 Dec Lydia
Fri 8 Dec Jennie Swanson
Sat 9 Dec Psalmist
Sun 10 Dec Dr Platypus
Mon 11 Dec Sally Coleman
Tue 12 Dec Jim Palmer
Wed 13 Dec Anne Gogh
Thu 14 Dec Weekend Fisher
Fri 15 Dec Dave
Sat 16 Dec John Cooper
Sun 17 Dec Sue Wallace at Abbess
Mon 18 Dec Lucas
Tue 19 Joanna at Keeping Feet
Wed 20 Adrian at Emerging Church info.
Thu 21 Ian Mobsy at Mootblog
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