Becoming a Better Pilgrim

Those who put their trust in you are truly happy; pilgrimage is in their hearts.

Psalm 84:5

As Thanksgiving nears, we think back to the Pilgrims who traveled over a treacherous ocean to an unknown land to worship God as their hearts called them. The primary dictionary definition of “pilgrim” is “one who travels to a holy place.” Surely those early Pilgrims to America must have thought they were headed somewhere heavenly. While their reality proved otherwise, they did find blessings amid hardship, so much so that they had a Thanksgiving feast.

Hymns for centuries have spoken of Christians as pilgrims, whose home is in heaven and who are just “passing through” this earthly life. Yet scripture tells us all creation “came into being through the Word,” which came to share this life with us in Jesus. (John 1:3) And Genesis says human beings are created in the image of God. (1:27) So we don’t need to wait for heaven to be caught up in God’s presence. Our life journeys are filed with experiences and people who can point us toward God. Most of us would not say, as some in previous generations did, that this life doesn’t matter. But often we don’t look on our daily lives as overflowing with opportunities to encounter God.

Soon I will go to a “holy place,” where thousands of people have prayed over nearly 150 years, for my annual silent retreat. Whether it is a worthwhile retreat will not depend so much on what happens there as on whether I emerge a better pilgrim, looking for the holy places God puts along my way.

God’s peace,

Katie