Wanderlust Awaits: Embrace the Adventure of a Lifetime!

Clergy from left: Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By The Rev. Lynn M. Finnegan
Associate Rector
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith

“Safe travels.” “Text when you arrive.” These are the messages my family exchanges whenever any of us are traveling, whether it be by airplane or a lengthy car journey. The meaning is straightforward: we hope and pray for smooth travels, devoid of flight cancellations, roadwork, or mishaps.

Contrast this with the sentiment familiar to those who have traversed the Camino de Santiago, a renowned pilgrimage path: Buen Camino. “Buen Camino” signifies a desire and a prayer for safe travels, but it encompasses more. It is a supplication that the individual you are addressing has a fulfilling journey. Embarking on a journey indicates more than merely moving from Point A to Point B. It connotates richness, depth, and significance to the trip that can be tangible, yes, but is also frequently spiritual. Journeys require time and intention. Journeys are not meant to be hurried. They offer the chance to contemplate and reflect.

Our scriptural account of Christ’s birth incorporates both travel and a journey. According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents, had to make their way from their residence in Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census. The census mandated that families return to their place of origin to be counted, and Bethlehem held Joseph’s ancestral ties. I have no doubt this was unwelcome news for Mary, who was nine months pregnant! It is estimated that walking from Nazareth to Bethlehem (the presence of a donkey remains uncertain, as scripture does not specify) for a woman in her third trimester would have taken approximately a week. I envision Mary’s mother nervously preparing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (or their first-century Palestinian equivalent) and saying to them, “Safe travels.”

Nevertheless, Mary and Joseph were also on a journey. Both were faced with unexpected and genuinely alarming news that turned their lives upside down. Neither had any inkling of what lay ahead. Both sensed God’s call to take a chance, to have trust, to possess faith. And both embraced it. Luke’s gospel records that after the birth of Jesus and the shepherds’ visit, Mary “pondered all these things in her heart.” I am certain that during the arduous journey to Bethlehem, both Mary and Joseph were engaging in reflection. They not only contemplated how their lives would transform with a newborn at home, as all expecting parents do, but they also reflected on God’s love woven throughout their lives.

During this season, there is a great deal of traveling occurring. Perhaps you are among those preparing to load the car or board a plane to spend time with family and friends over the holidays. I wish you safe travels. Whether you are traveling or staying put, Christmas also provides a wonderful opportunity for reflection on your journey. In what ways will the celebration of Jesus’ birth impact your journey? Merry Christmas! May the light of Christ guide you on both your travels AND your journey.