As you well know, I am just back from a lovely time of pilgrimage in the isle of Iona, “cradle of Scottish Christianity.” It has provided much food for thought, to say the least, and so, to keep the pilgrim mojo going:
1. Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? (however you choose to define the term) Share a bit about it. If not, what’s your reaction to the idea of pilgrimage?
I suppose I have already answered this
here (beforehand), then
here and here (while there), and then
here, here, and here (afterward).
2. Share a place you’ve always wanted to visit on pilgrimage.
I just returned from that place.
However, I would like to travel some of Paul’s missionary journeys. Closer to home, I’d like to go back to Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, and to take Dad’s perimeter Texas ride. I think visiting some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites would be a fun and interesting pilgrimage back into history (both American history and my own childhood history).
3. What would you make sure to pack in your suitcase or backpack to make the pilgrimage more meaningful? Or does “stuff” just distract from the experience?
It’s interesting, I took a novel with me, and while I did read it during some random down times, it wasn’t the right companion on this voyage. So I took out some books from the Abbey library. I would say the indispensable item for me would be a journal. Something small enough that I can have with me at all times. While it seems contradictory to talk about stuff on a pilgrimage, I must say I’m glad I had good enough gear that I could really explore the island unencumbered by weather or fear of breaking my ankle. Other than that, the less stuff to distract, the better.
4. If you could make a pilgrimage with someone (living, dead or fictional) as your guide, who would it be? (I’m about thisclose to saying “Besides Jesus.” Yes, we all know he was indispensable to those chaps heading to Emmaus, but it’s too easy an answer)
I really would like to pilgrimage with ChaplainMom; I think we could do the woo-woo thing yet also have some really joyful laughing times. We would guide each other in that case. In terms of wise guides, I would like to travel with the former director of the spirituality program at Crusty ol’ Theological. I often get jumpy and suspicious around those uber-spiritual types who speak in intense hushed tones and who never seem to laugh or burp. For some reason Hildegard of Bingen comes to mind as a great guide. It needs to be someone in touch with the holy but grounded in the real world.
5. Eventually the pilgrim must return home, but can you suggest any strategies for keeping that deep “mountaintop” perspective in the midst of everyday life? (don’t mind me, I’ll be over here taking notes)
I’m not sure how to be intentional about this, other than continuing to reflect on the experience, while not diluting it with too much examination, and to view life itself as a pilgrimage itself. I do know that our house seems to be falling apart right now; we have an inoperable garage door, a broken dishwasher latch, a bad bathroom doorknob, a kitty who needs gum surgery, a cracked cell phone display, a self-destructed hard drive, and several other examples of holy entropy, and it’s thanks to the pilgrimage that I am so “such is life” about it.
Photograph of pilgrims on the way to St. Columba’s Bay, courtesy of this page.
10 Responses to “friday five: post pilgrimage edition”
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Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? (however you choose to define the term)
It’s such a religion-specific word that I can’t answer yes, even with your disclaimer. There are things I do that may parallel it, though not on any kind of large scale since my boys arrived. I used to take off in some random direction in my truck, and end up in Death Valley or whatever. Now I just do stuff like this or this sometimes when I’m between contracts.
Share a place you’ve always wanted to visit on pilgrimage.
Nowhere in particular. I like to find out where I’m going when I get there.
If you could make a pilgrimage with someone (living, dead or fictional) as your guide, who would it be? (I’m about this close to saying “Besides Jesus.”
My wife and I used to have great road trips. We tried it with the boys. It doesn’t work. One of those would be nice.
Can you suggest any strategies for keeping that deep “mountaintop” perspective in the midst of everyday life?
Don’t have an everyday life.
thank you… You’ve made me want to visit Iona, for one thing. And we do view ordinary life in a different way after being away… maybe it’s the luxury of being able to focus on these things…
Iona looks beautiful. And thanks for the great list. I can’t write when I’m on trips for some reason. I admire you that you can.
I’m very impressed that the influence of retreat on your return home is so benign…I seem to find that it makes me extra grumpy about mundane annoyances, so the list that you catalogued would have had me foaming at the mouth and throwing shoes around. I do hope that you continue to feel the benefit of your pilgrimage for a long time to come x
Oh! I completely forgot about Hildegard of Bingen! She’d be a FAR better companion that Zombie Thomas Becket.
Beautiful is not the right word, but its the best word I have, Thanks for the FF, it was inspiring!
Ooooh. Hildegarde would be a great guide… I love LOVE the Anonymous 4 CD with some of her canticles on it…
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Too much to think about with this Friday Five to answer in any depth…but two spiritual places come to mind for me:
-Ghost Ranch and the hikes up Pedernal, Chimney Rock and Kitchen Mesa have fed my soul many a time
-And a few select places in the Jemez mountains in New Mexico
I love rocks and sunshine on rocks. I love the pace of hiking (usually very slow) and the meditative rythymn it requires.
Wherever the pilgrimage, there is no doubt that I would need to be “without kids” to ever be still enough to listen.
Thanks for the questions. It was a lovely way to remember the wonderful places I have been. It was even more fun to be able to recall after a number of years what was special about those trips.
I loved Iona. I was there only there for 2 partial days and one night in 1995. But those days were blustery November just before the ferry stopped making daily trips. The light was awesome and I have some wonderful slides.
You should try to get to Lindesfarne sometime. It had a different flavor to it altogether even tho it has somewhat the same history. Cuthbert and all that!
Revmother, fear not, you will not forget this trip. Certain things will fade away and there will be things that you will remember always. You will remember what you need to.
Lovely. I am glad you were there.