Anticipation: When I drive up to Idaho to visit my mother there is always a great sense of anticipation. The 15 hour drive seems at times to be endless but as the miles tick by the energy in the soul, of coming home to Idaho, begins to strengthen and as your roll down the grade out of the Eastern Oregon desert and see the simple sign, “Welcome to Idaho” there is a jump of joy where life is just a little bit better. It is a moment after this I remember there are still another 4 hours to drive.
Waiting: The joy, the adrenaline, the happiness begins to temper and settle down knowing there is now a wait. You are in Idaho but you are not yet home. A few deep breaths and a refocusing on the journey begins again.
Knowing the journey: I have driven this road dozens of times and knowing the journey helps you mark off the time as you inch ever closer. Driving through Payette and Weiser as I head north and then following the winding road up the mountains through Council and New Meadows. And finally heading back down the other side passing through Riggins to the bottom of the valley. As you head up the Whitebird Grade and peak over the top, the Camas Prairie comes into view with its patchwork of fields of green or gold; home is a smell so near.
Going home to Idaho: And while the journey is almost complete, driving up over the last rise and seeing my childhood home grounds me in a way that nothing else has ever done on this earth. It is home: full of memories, full of new blessings and full of love.
Which is a long and wonderful way to get to the second part of the letter. As we Californians know, our governor issued an order that has allowed houses of worship to gather once more. In a way, this news opened the door too many different feelings of hope, memory and blessings of love.
Coming home to the Eucharist: In the Eucharist we believe we touch heaven in the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. It brings forth so many spiritual gifts which nothing else can accomplish. It is the source and some of our faith and lives…it is the memories of the many celebrations, the joys and sorrows, the milestones of life…it is home.
Not knowing the journey: The most difficult part of this journey is not knowing. I don’t have landmarks or signposts to show me the way. It is the strange road where, you hope, every corner will be the final one. Where the next hill will reveal the sought after destination. In many ways it is the not knowing the road which has caused the most pain. It is new and difficult and seemingly without end. We don’t have a map, a gps signal, or even a stranger on the journey to ask directions. We get glimpses of possibilities on the facebook or youtube streaming events but the desire and long to be connected isn’t and cannot be satisfied.
Waiting: While the order by the governor was a wonderful welcoming sign, we all know there is a part of the journey we must still complete. And as we wait our hearts and souls should be preparing, emptying our sorrows and fears into the heart of Jesus and looking out with hope and joy to the inching forward in the hope of blessing.
Anticipation: We all know the destination: Heaven. We also know how the Eucharist helps us to live our lives and be connected to God in a unique and powerful way. The anticipation of the taste of the Divine food is what keeps us on the road forward. Let us all continue to seek our destination in kindness and love.
God Bless
Fr. Mark