Yes... it's true

I took advantage of an opportunity to go spend a week with Travis in Princeton. It turned out to be a bit more than a week- fever, hospital visit and antibiotics postponing the return... I'm now back in Guatemala. It was delightful to see Travis of course, spend time with friends in Princeton, and catch the end of fall...

But it was bizarre to be in a place that was so familiar and yet alien at the same time. I had the surprising sensation of returning "home" to Guatemala. I touched down and (using my cell phone that only works here) called Edgar to have him come pick me up. "Como estas Edgar?"... "Siempre en la lucha" (always in the struggle or fight) came his familiar response. Edgar drives a taxi as his source of income, and like many taxi drivers here, he relies on private calls and clients as it can be too dangerous to pick up just anyone on the street. And he is really always in the struggle. Asked if he ever takes a day off, or will enjoy Christmas with his family, he replied that he works every day and is available especially on holidays to drive people around. His income is often the sole income for his family of five which includes his wife, two grown sons and a daughter in law. His wife and two sons all have Epilepsy and are on daily medication. These expenses among other daily necessities require that he work whenever he has the chance. As we passed a huge fake Chistmas tree downtown with a "Gallo" sign on top, (Gallo is the local beer) I laughed and commented on the irony. Edgar was quick to join the critique. He said his mom always told him growing up that Christmas was not a celebration of "tree day" and that Jesus and Mary did not have new clothes or toys to celebrate his birth... the shephards just showed up to honor him. That's how he and his family celebrate now. The noise, pollution, chicken buses, honks, 75 degree weather with the windows down were all familarly welcoming as we bobbed and wove our way through the traffic. Simple reminders of the ordinariness and complete extraordinariness of this season. And the point of it all... to simply honor, recognize, bow at the mystery of a God who would become... did become flesh! God embodied: Astonishing!

Edgar and I are going to pick up Travis today. Though I'm sad to not be "Home home" for the holidays, I'm thankful to feel at home here and have Travis with me for our first joint Christmas celebration.