A Pep-Talk for Pilgrims

The first time I ever heard the word, “pilgrim”, I was in elementary school. I listened with rapt attention as my teacher described Plymouth Rock and the travelers who had journeyed so far to the new land that I only knew as home.  The story of that first Thanksgiving shared by the pilgrims and the native people of the land, along with the pictures of those pilgrims, brought my imagination to life.  I was so very excited to learn that our classroom would be presenting a special, pilgrim-themed event for our parents to attend.  I got to dress up as, you guessed it, a pilgrim.  My costume was complete with long black dress with a white collar, a white apron, and a very pilgrim-y hat that had been created by my mom and grandmother.   

I had not thought much more about the pilgrims and their journey until recently.  Last summer I signed up to take a summer class at my home church with a local bible teacher.  Kristi blew me away with not just her knowledge, but with her unique view of the bible.  Twelve years ago, as a student herself, she took her first trip to Israel.  She described how she had found the stories in the bible suddenly turned from black-and-white to color as she visited the places that had before just been locations on a map in the back of that sacred book.  She relayed how looking at the bible through a first-century lens had so changed her DNA, that she had been taking groups back herself ever since.   I enjoyed that class so much, as soon as it ended, I signed up for a fall class.

Photo by Kristi McLelland. It was taken in Israel a couple of months ago. In twelve years of visiting Israel, she has never seen a rainbow there. But this trip, she was able to see God’s symbol of promise while standing in the Promised Land.

Suddenly, it was as if I was back in elementary school.  Once again, I was listening with rapt attention to a teacher talk about being a pilgrim, and a journey, a pilgrimage that she has not only taken herself, but that she was inviting me and others to take as well.

Initially, I ignored the talk about becoming a pilgrim. After all, that outfit made by my mother hasn’t fit me in a very long time. Being a pilgrim involves risk. It involves commitment. It involves investment. It involves surrender. So I did what every scared pilgrim would do. I googled “Why do people go on a pilgrimage?” I landed upon a blog called “Holy Rover” by a woman named Lori Erickson. I could tell by her first name alone that she could absolutely be trusted and is a probably a genius. Her blog included her top 10 reasons to go on a pilgrimage:

10.      You’re young and want an adventure.

9.        You’re old and want to reflect on your life.

8.        You’ve had a divorce, are grieving a loss, or have had some other major life event.

7.        You want to draw closer to God.

6.        You’re pretty sure there is no God, but there’s a tiny sliver of doubt.

5.        You think a pilgrimage sounds better than therapy.

4.        You want to make new friends.

3.        You want to be alone.

2.        You’ve got itchy feet.

1.        You’re human.

I could say “affirmative” to at least seven items on this list. Obviously Ms. Erickson is a big fan of everyone going on a pilgrimage at some point in their life journey. But Israel? Really? I have always been afraid of going there. It has felt like a danger zone, and I wanted to feel safe, secure in my little corner of the world. I mean, Israel is in the Middle East, for goodness sake.

I have struggled with the concept of becoming a pilgrim.  This journey will involve a two week trip scheduled for June 2020. It will entail two weeks away from my work and my family.  The trip is expensive.  I will be going in a group, but going by myself.  As is my usual modus operandi, I prayed and asked God to let me know very specifically what I should do about this opportunity.  The next day….I’m not kidding….literally, the next day I received an email from someone that instructed me to read Psalm 84.

I opened my bible and started reading.  My heart couldn’t believe my eyes when it read “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”   How is that for a specific answer? 

The answer to this pilgrim’s prayer!

It’s hard to explain what it actually feels like to be called to be a pilgrim.  But the call has hit me hard, right between the eyes.  I explained it to my husband this way.  I said, “Remember how it felt when we just knew that we had a child waiting for us in China?  Remember how the desire was so strong to pursue that adoption that it almost physically hurt?  Remember how it was less painful to endure the paperwork, the home-study, the months of waiting and the financial stress than it was to say “No” to that call? “

“Yes”, he said.

“I have never felt that way again, about anything, until now,” I responded.  “I just know that I’m supposed to take this trip to Israel.”   

“Then you need to go,” was his reply. I love him, by the way.

So, this post is being written by a bona fide pilgrim-in-training.  Kristi says, “Pilgrimage begins the moment you say, ‘Yes.”  I may be a little over a year away from our group’s departure date, but this pilgrim has already started her journey.  Arriving in Israel will be my summit experience.  But I don’t want to miss the sights and people I encounter along the way there.

I’ve realized something through this entire process.  We all really are pilgrims.  We are all on this journey called life.  We don’t have to travel somewhere to experience pilgrimage.  My pilgrimage isn’t going to look exactly like yours.  No one person’s pilgrimage is any more special than another’s.  Our singular journeys can happen anywhere, even in our own backyard. 

Pilgrimage begins the moment you say, “yes.”

Kristi McClelland, bible teacher extraordinaire

This weekend Savannah Guthrie, morning host of the TODAY Show, returned to her alma mater, George Washington University, to deliver the graduation commencement address.  Her address was brilliant.  She was funny, inspirational and charming.   During her address, she said something that struck me as really, really important.  She said, “Don’t stress when other people seem to be going higher and faster…The life you’re making is enough.  It is enough.  You are enough.”

We pilgrims can be terribly hard on each other.  Sometimes our eyes get so dazzled by our destination in the distance that we forget to help our fellow pilgrims we encounter along the path. We also can be incredibly hard on our self. Let’s agree to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the journey.  That journey is just as important as the destination. Maybe it’s even more important. 

I’m rooting for you, pilgrim.  I’ll be cheering you on each step of the way. Return the favor, will you? Promise me you will cheer this claustrophobic pilgrim on through every square inch of Hezekiah’s tunnels.

Don’t be afraid.  Say “yes” and let your journey begin. 

One thought on “A Pep-Talk for Pilgrims”

  1. I will Pray for you and your Pilgrimage daily Lori…It inspires me that you let the Lord Lead you to this place and journey and it is out of your comfort zone….and must I say I am not surprised by Wally’s answer, to go…we have extraordinary men who seem to encourage and love us no matter what the journey is…I Love you….

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