Phil Cousineau writes, “If your journey is indeed a
pilgrimage, a soulful journey, it will be rigorous. Ancient Wisdom suggests that if you aren’t
trembling as you approach the sacred, it isn’t the real thing. The sacred, in its various guises as holy
ground, art or knowledge, evokes emotion and commotion.” After returning from
our pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, I am realizing that the journey
of faith, is really a pilgrimage. All of
those steps that I took this summer, just emphasize a little bit more the how
to do it.
Rigorous can certainly describe my walk on many regular days
here at home as I expect it can describe yours.
It seems that the older that I get the more rigorous it becomes. Sometimes, the rigor is more emotional than
physical but it is still rigorous!
The below picture was taken in Padron, Spain while walking the camino pilgrimage this summer. It was a time
of trembling for me. It came
as a surprise. Bernie and I got off
course on the fifth day of our time with all of the pilgrims. Yes, we did get lost and it was very hot. We however had heard of a spot where James
had actually preached and we wanted to see it.
It was away from our prescribed path but there was a strong inner pull
for both of us. Because of being lost
and asking many people for directions, we put way more steps in our day than we had
planned. We had been told that our destination was
right behind the Convento do Carme. You
can’t miss the convent when coming into the town, but this mountain where James had spent time was not right behind it. We walked down
the convent steps and around on a back street where there was a woman helping anyone who came by.
Fortunately, she spoke English and directed us down the street a
little farther where we climbed 115 steps to the Monte Santiaguino. It was very late in the day but a pull was
still calling to both of us. We climbed
these rugged, ancient steps that were lined with the Stations of the
Cross. As I approached the top, my
insides were doing flips and turns. I
could sense the tears welling up in my eyes as well as a trembling deep
within. I was approaching ground on which
a man who had known Jesus in the flesh was trying to live out his call. We sat on that mountain together in silence,
imagining and praying. I felt changed
somehow. I knew that I was being touched
by the holy.
These trembling times always come as a surprise. This
community of Christ Church Cathedral, is surrounded by the sacred in
many guises. The opportunity to tremble
is ever present! We can't however make it happen. What we can do is what people of
faith on pilgrimage do every day:
- · continue our search for God by worshiping with the community
- · be faithful to personal spiritual practices
- · wrestle with our questions
- · ask for support and guidance
- · keep going even when we are tired by putting one foot in front of the other.
Then to our surprise, in the blink of an eye, we tremble.
I look forward to being with you as we study, wrestle and
support one another in so many ways in this new year. I would love to hear about your moments of
trembling if you would like to share. Just as I struggle for words to describe my pilgrimage experience on the camino, I know it is hard to put this journey of faith into words. We can try however as we exchange our stories with another.
Dr Elizabeth Conrad, Minister of Christian Formation
Dr Elizabeth Conrad, Minister of Christian Formation
