Spending Time: SFO with Donabel

(Breakfast at SFO Hilton)
"What are you doing?" It is the question of the hour. As I've traveled in the USA to visit friends, family and friends of family and friends I get the question over and over. It is a simple question. Yet my answering the question feels less than simple. I'm speechless often because I don't have the kind of answer I think people are looking for. Rather than explain sometimes it is just easier to say, "nothing". This time of sabbatical has been so pregnant with time. I've used the time for people, reading, traveling, watching, exploring and listening. I've never known this kind of life where I've reveled in the open possibilities in front of me, where I've welcomed the freedom to do "nothing" and "everything" all at the same time and where life's serendipity's come often because I'm paying attention. Yet my doings of nothing are really my "doing" of everything important in life--being, listening, waiting and seeking. For me Advent season began in August and my hunch is that it will continue far beyond December 25. The sense of waiting, hope, joy and love has had an especially long season to simmer. I'm grateful.

So this week I flew back to CA to be home for Christmas and New Years. My first stop was Vallejo and SFO before heading to Redding. I never had a sister growing up but in Uni and Seminary I gained a sister in Donabel Martin. We couldn't be more different yet on some levels we couldn't be more alike. She is serving a church in Vallejo. As soon as I arrived she put me to work in their food bank. Her church passed out huge boxes of holiday foods. I went to youth group in the evening and then we went into the city of SFO. We spent our time together in SFO with her friends and family. I love her family and feel like I'm a part of them! Donabel introduces me as her sister---heads cock to the side as they try to figure out how this white girl is related to this Filipino family! I love that.

We spent two nights at the Hilton! I never even dreamed of staying at a Hilton. What a treat and a huge gift from a friend of DB'S who works there. I ate Korean food, Thai food and Ghirideli's Ice Cream and admittedly too much junk food. I shared great conversations. I met co-workers of DB and close friends. Donabel's brother was in from Australia and he is always a treat to be around. Donabel's family is a family of pastors! Spending time with great people and laughing a lot.....life doesn't get much better.