Pilgrimage
I like walking. Generally this involves walking on Dartmoor but I do sometimes get to visit other places for a walk as well. Unfortunately I don’t live on the edge of Dartmoor as so I have to drive for an hour and a bit to get there. It’s worth it for the reward even though it can be a little tedious early in the morning when you just want to start the walk.
So often we have to go on tedious journeys before we get to what we really want to do. However I think perhaps the people who went on Pilgrimage in the middle ages (and before) could teach us a thing or two. When you have to walk somewhere that is several miles away it takes quite a while. The forced slowness of the journey forces you to take time to think – what else is there to do if you are on a slow journey on your own?
Of course for many Pilgrims there was a time spent with others on the same journey but somehow talking with strangers about your life can also be a good way to think.
Even Jesus had to take his time getting around the Holy Land. It isn’t a big country but on foot there is still plenty of time for reflection. When I read in John’s gospel about how there are many other things that Jesus said and did not written down I sometimes think perhaps John was remembering the times he had spent walking along the road talking with Jesus.
If you have to make a decision then why not take a walk? Sometimes the journey is as important as the destination.
