Pilgrimage: August 2009

Whether we go to the Ganges or Graceland, maintaining a spirit of observance and self-reflection is key. —Gregg Levoy

We are in the middle of that long-held American tradition called August vacation! Many in our congregation will be finishing vacations before school begins or taking some time before new projects start in September. Amy and I will be traveling to a place we have never been before, Las Vegas—Lord, have mercy on us!

As a society, we use vacations to rest, rejuvenate our souls, and to ready ourselves for the onslaught that is the fall. Do we see this as a simple vacation or can we conceptualize it as something deeper? The Bible is full of characters who took pilgrimages, Moses, Jesus and Paul to name a few. I love the story of how Abraham went to a new land because God said “go.” I imagine as Abram walked through this new land he could just look at the changing landscape. He had no iPod or DVD player or Harry Potter book to occupy his time on the journey. He could pray, talk with fellow travelers and observe the scenery. He was changed, finding a new home and encounters with God along the way.

One summer my family drove our Ford Aerostar van from Wichita, Kansas, to Orlando, Florida. Yes, we were headed to Disney World! It was a total journey of 1,400 miles. My sister and I read almost the entire way. I remember my dad saying, “Look out the window! There’s the Mississippi!” We continued reading and really did not care about a river of water. We were not in a spirit of observation. Can you blame us after 25 hours of driving?

Vacations are like pilgrimages. We may journey to Ireland for Celtic spirituality, or the Middle East to visit sacred sites of Christianity. There are other vacations that also engage us with the Divine. Trips to sacred places of our past, visits with family and school reunions or a favorite family vacation spot. The purpose of the pilgrimage is to return home changed. To walk into your home, breathe deep, and know that you are not the same as when you left.

No matter where your August vacations or journeys lead you, may you look for the sacred. May your destination be a place that deepens your connection with God. May you be in a spirit of observation and find the Divine waiting to meet you.

—Eric Strader