Pilgrimage as a way to pray.
Paul Millar, pastor at Montague Christian Church, wants to encourage us to think of pilgrimage as another way to facilitate spiritual growth and experience with God.
Last week, 20 pilgrims walked almost 100km from Montague, PE to Greenwich National Park on the north shore.
Not only were they graced with beautiful sunshine and cool breezes for most of the week – but on the final day, as they crossed the floating boardwalks and climbed the sand dunes, they were rewarded with the beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean and the red sand.
This year the theme for Pilgrimage PEI was “Beloved and Walking in Joy.”
There were reflections and a guiding question each day.
There was Scripture reading and silence at lunch time.
A time of reflection and response concluded each day.
There was spiritual conversation, discussion about prayer, personal sharing of troubling and celebratory things, and a strong sense of unity and community.
It was a time of both solitude and community – as pilgrims sometimes walked alone and sometimes in small groups.
It was a time of silence in God’s creation as the pilgrims noticed the apple blossoms and lupines just starting to bloom.
It was a time of laughter and spiritual kinship as the pilgrims encouraged and listened to one another.
Paul was grateful for the trust that built over the week which enabled people to share their stories.
He felt honoured to pray with people and even see one of those prayers miraculously answered during the pilgrimage!
God is present to us in all sorts of ways.
Sometimes it’s the simplicity of walking and an attentive heart that allows us to catch a glimpse of the face of God.
