A pilgrimage is a sacred journey, taken with intention, to or through a particular destination.

With such a broad definition, life can most certainly be seen as a pilgrimage in itself. Being a person of faith, I definitely find life to be a sacred journey—one on which each of us is creating meaning and finding purpose, building relationships, weaving our growing selves into the fabric of life, ultimately making our way home to our Creator. Life is the fullest expression of a pilgrimage.

There are also specific journeys that can be made as part of our pursuit of meaning, purpose, and growth. Some people take a pilgrimage journey back through the places of their childhood to remember the gifts of old familiar places, celebrate and discover more about ancestors, or to find healing for trauma experienced earlier in life. Others have different reasons for embarking on a pilgrimage. They might carry within themselves a significant decision or question about their life, using the trip to soul-search and open the self to what might be revealed. Others may be carrying the grief of loss, moving through a threshold of change in their life, or getting in touch with nature and their own body. Many who go on pilgrimage acknowledge the sacred nature of the journey, though not all do. Drawing closer to God, Creator, Love, Life, the Source of all that is—this can be a most significant part of pilgrimage.

People have gone on pilgrimage journeys for centuries. In early days, pilgrimage walks were primarily spiritual, often following in the footsteps of a Saint or making one’s way to a holy site. I will highlight some of these. Those walking the Camino de Santiago, for instance, made their way to the Cathedral in Santiago where it is said that the bones of Saint James are buried. Others who have walked pathways like the Kerry Way in Ireland or the West Highland Way in Scotland, may explore Celtic Christianity, with it’s focus on nature and places where heaven and earth seem so close together, it feels like there is no distance between the two, called “thin places”. St. Cuthbert’s Way, a border pathway between Scotland and England, takes the walker through the lands where Saint Cuthbert ministered, prayed, and served God during the 600’s AD. It ends on the tidal island where he lived as a hermit and later died. There is a pilgrim path of St. Francis in Italy that follows significant places in his journey of faith and ministry. And, I myself have walked with a group to Tinker Cliffs in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where Annie Dillard lived and about which she wrote profoundly in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. We read excerpts of Dillard’s writings, as well as those of similar voices. We spent time sharing in conversation, thoughtfully processing throughout the experience, and worshipping our Creator. Being on pilgrimage can take different forms, traverse varied paths, and involve unique pursuits. I believe in carving out time and space for such an experience and trust that the Creator God can provide, bless, teach, and touch each person who gives themselves to the journey.

Do you feel something inside calling your forward? Inviting you into a journey of exploration, growth, or learning? Are you feeling drawn to time away to turn your attention to something specific? Or away from something specific? Are you wanting to create space for God to reveal love, lessons, truths to you? Do you want to simply show up and see what you might give and what you will receive? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, keep reading about pilgrimage or reach out to ask more questions.