Return

Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. ~ Matthew 2:11-12

After gift-giving season comes gift-returning season. I participated in the latter yesterday to get the proper size of a shirt I had given as a gift. This took me to Augusta, but, like the Magi, I returned by another road. Naturally, the reason for the detour was birding. Hoping to squeeze out another species or two for my 2024 year lists, I pursued a reported American Wigeon. I had seen the species during the year, but not in Kennebec county. Yes, I concern myself about such details. Had I found it among the abundant Mallards, it would have done nothing to change my final standing among the birders in the county, I am well ahead of the person after me, but, sadly there is also a person ahead of me, whom I won’t catch. Second spot for the year is quite respectable. Since I was already in birding mode (who am I kidding, I’m always in birding mode), I checked recent sightings and found that a Rough-legged Hawk had been reported a mere twelve miles away just a few hours earlier. This was a species that I haven’t yet seen in Maine, meaning it would be a tick on multiple lists. So I took off on yet another different road in order to keep seeking. The search for the hawk was in vain, but I got to watch a pair of eagles slowly and gracefully fly from as far as I could see south to as far as I could see north. Then I stumbled upon a total surprise of a Northern Pintail casually hanging out with a dozen Mallards in a mere puddle in the flooded field.

As it typical of nearly every birding expedition, I sought particular gifts and received others. Not only are these gifts non-returnable, there is no reason to disparage them. In fact, the serendipity of discovery is a gift itself, and if the truth be told, is actually the reason for the seeking in the first place. The story of the Magi is one about people wise enough to know that they had to test their theories and adapt to the knowledge gained. They had calculated from the star that a new king was born. They discovered not only that the child was not royal as they understood royalty, but that news of a new king was definitely bad news to the old king. They learned and they adapted. They marveled, then returned by a different way.

Is that what your Advent journey looked like? Did you find the unexpected? Did you discover wonder and marvel? Did the journey change you? Or did you did you go through the motions of tradition and things as normal? It’s not too late to be dazzled by the stars that are begging you to ask new questions and find a new way, even a new way home.

Prayer: Holy Pioneer, dazzle us anew and we will follow your new paths. Amen.