Good morning…
Yesterday I walked with a friend who recently returned from her pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Camino is Spanish for “way” or “path” and Santiago means “Saint James,” so my friend walked the way of James, who walked the way of Jesus. For my birthday in March, this friend got me a book, The Way is Made by Walking by Arthur Paul Boers, which chronicles the sacred adventure of the Camino, a journey undertaken by millions over the last twelve hundred years. Interestingly, the book’s forward is written by Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message translation of the Bible, which I so often share when I am quoting Scripture.
“There is nothing more pedestrian (literally!) than walking on a way, a road, a path,” writes Peterson. “But the moment we put one foot in front of the other, we very well might find ourselves on a pilgrimage. Walking could turn out to be the most significant spiritual act in which we ever engage. And the road we walk on the holiest piece of ground. Feet and faith are inextricably integrated…Pilgrimage is the ancient practice of walking, usually with others, to a holy site while paying prayerful attention to everything that takes place within and without, soul and body, all the ways that are inherent in the Way, along with the companions who are also on the Way…Way is the prominent metaphor both within and outside Scripture for enlisting our imaginations, and hopefully our involvement, in living concretely, responsively, immediately, with our muscles and bones, brains and voices, the nerve endings in our fingers and the calluses on our feet…”
Stepping one foot in front of the other, walking is a significant spiritual act. Might our feet and our faith become inextricably integrated? Pilgrimage is the ancient practice of walking with others to a holy site, while paying prayerful attention to everything. We learn to live concretely, responsively, immediately, with our body and soul, our muscles and bones, our brains and our voices. Powerfully and personally, we notice God’s presence with every step. You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139:2, BCP).
As one of the first trips in my husband’s new venture as Chaplain Emeritus at The Lovett School, in September, Steve and I will take this pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain with a small group of ten or twelve people. For ten full days, we will faithfully be where our feet and our friends are, new and old, living concretely, responsively, immediately.
So lift up your hands that are dangling and brace your weakened knees. Make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame in you won’t be put out of joint, but will heal (Hebrews 12:12-13, VOICE).
…Sue…
P.S. Might God be nudging you to join Steve and me in Spain? Check out the link to this and other upcoming adventures. Contact Steve Allen with any questions.
