41 posts tagged “pilgrim”
What home. What do you mean by home. What is home?
Amersterdam's Schiphol is a lovely airport, and I arrived a little too late in the evening to fool with going into the city, unless I were just going to crash. I'm still young enough to sleep on an airport floor if I must, so I planned to crash there. Fortunately, they have wonderfully comfortable chairs that are pretty decent for sleeping. I won't think so twenty years from now, I'm sure.
It took me some time to wind down, and I had some wonderful conversations with folks from a variety of places. The man at the coffee counter where I bought supper (crispy bacon and egg sandwich, just like those in my memory from London - I've done a lot of cheap gas station sandwiches, and those are the best!). He grew up in Ghana, and I asked if he liked it here. He got really quiet, and then showed me his wrist: a yellow band was on it, and it said "Jehova-Jireh". He said, 'do you know what it means? The Lord will provide, man. The Lord will provide.'
I could have strolled the red light district, and watched drunk people all night. But I've had my fair share of Bourbon Street. Instead, I got the wonderful treat of a pleasant meal, and the soul-food of a witness by one man to his faith that God is with him, so far away from his homeland.
It would have felt nice to have had the luxury of a private room and clean, warm shower - especally as I have another 12 hours of flying and airports, but it was nice to stay here in the airport and meet some of the people who work here, or are travelling through.
I've spent a lot of time in airports in the 24 hours. Almost half of that time.
Significant layovers in Paris and Amsterdam. Originally plan was to spend the day in Paris at the Louvre, having not been to that museum. Unfortunately, once I got on the ground and calculated the costs, I realized that was a little bit too much of a luxury for me, so I decided to spend the time in the airport reflecting, and working on some writing.
Just taking myself to the Louvre and back, without meals, would have cost nearly $200. I don't think that would have been realistic, much less responsible. So, a little frustrated at the idea of a bottle of water costing $5, I had a light meal in the airport (cost way more than it should have!) that included a pastry as part of the "meal deal." The pastry choice for which I opted was a small apple tart. The first bite into that thing made the whole change of plans worthwhile. It tasted exactly like my grandmother Bertha Barham's 7 layer apple cake, in which she used dried apples in a sauce she made between the layers of white cake. It was mmm...mmmm...goood, and I've never had anything else like since she died 15 years ago. That was a treat.
I also saw my first airport chapel, an interfaith space with separate prayer rooms for various religions. I appreciate that each had their own spot, but regret that we have to pray in separate space! "That we all may be one..."
I didn't see a room dedicated to an unknown God. Have a picture, will post when I have a chance.
Well, I thought I'd post a few photos that I think sums up my hopes for my work in Spain, both the retreat and the interivews. Also, the opportunity I had to spend a few days with folks who run albergues on the way - to share notes and ideas. I'm ever so grateful to have reflected on my role as a deacon this first month since my ordination by taking time to attempt both practice for and research on hospitality to pilgrims.
They speak to my own sense of lingering.
I think I may already have posted one or two. The third and fourth I've left unblogged.
One is of pilgrims at mile (or click) zero, just in front of the Cathedral. Next, the blessed opportunity to wash the feet of those who have walked in faith. Third, a picture of a threshold I took soon after my arrival in Spain, but that speaks to me also of my leaving and the sense of having stood near the Holy while sitting next to pilgrims (perhaps like a veil, as I contemplate my Uncle's journey through death's dark veil to the City of Light Eternal. Finally, a photo from standing in the same spot, with a shift in perspective, because holy lingering is in part about taking time to see things from different perspectives.
Hospitality also, I think, is liberal in its effect, but conservative in its sustainability
Many years ago, when I first dreamed of opening a hostel, I talked at length with a friend who shared her interests in “self-sustaining,” which I’ve changed to sustainable-stewardship, in an effort to think beyond the self, and acknowledge gratitude for and dependence on the Creator. I’ve not done a great job of weaving that into my life (trying), but have woven it into my draem – and my ideal albergue would require living a little closer to the land (so thanks to Rebekah, I can add a chicken run to my vision!).
Hospitality in the Peaceable Kingdom looks like hospitality toward the earth, in grateful response to the earth’s hospitality of us! And the chirp of birds and the bark of dogs and rustling of leaves under the flight of a lizard become sacramental reminders of the responsibility to dive more deeply into our sense of expanding outwards, our ever expanding sense of beyond-the-self, and beyond the merely human to embrace the fullness of creation that exists in the heart of God, of God’s own most passionate love.
Like God, we have to give some freedom, as we give hospitality – the freedom for those with us to leave, and this can be hard, I think. Hospitality requires being able to give to God the relationships we have, especially those we form as we open our doors,
At Moratinos, I was introduced to some wonderful old technology, that I find quite impressive in sophistication – a thresher. It was made of beautiful wood, boards bent to a curve at the end to look like a giant sled. Embedded in these boards were flint or granite – rocks carved and sharpened like arrow-heads we used to find as children in the wilds of Mississippi’s farmlands and forests. Hundreds of these pockmarked the boards. At harvest of the wheat, a farmer would run this across the wheat to break it open, and as it did, the chaff would turn to a slight dust and rise into the air and blow away. Jesus used this metaphor when talking about the false dichotomies we make when we say that there are “good people” and “bad people.” I think what Jesu
"Batter my heart, Three-Personed God!"
I am thinking back to my two visits to people who are providing hospitality to pilgrims on the camino: one in the hills near Galicia, and one in the meseta. It takes a certain kind of person to give their lives to hospitality. It’s one thing, I imagine, to occasionally call over the pilgrim for a visit, or to offer them a drink or even a bed. It’s another to be constantly available – to have invited the knocks at the door. Jesus said he would knock, but we wouldn’t know when!
There are many reflections I’d like to post, but I think I’ll make you read my thesis instead. I’ll put a couple of them up, of course, as they come to mind.
One thought is of two folks who are running a private refugio. I had the opportunity to observe them, learn from them, and become part of their routine. Another entry describes my thoughts on boundaries, and the importance of preserving sanity! The connection I should have made is with the various rules of hospitality I’ve read. Benedict being the first (that I read), and also the somewhat archetypal. Another is the rule of the society of St. John the Evangelist. I don’t have it on me, and can’t do it justice to misquote it, so I’ll try to place it up when I’m back home, unless one of you wants to post a comment with it!
A few times I’ve been challenged to think about writing a rule of life. I’ve opted for other projects on those occasions, for various reasons, though I did undertake years ago to write something like a rule when I returned from the camino having been a pilgrim. I need to pull that out and tweek it, and see where I’ve been through the years.
I’m grateful to the full time hospitaleros (and all hospitaleros!) who showed me the behind the scenes. Their frankness about how old the work sometimes feels, or how they can feel taken advantage of..., their dedication to continuing the work underscores the need for a rule of life: one like St. Benedict's – not only extremely practical, but each aspect stemming from and leading too a centeredness in the Holy who calls us to and sustains us in that work.
It’s not just about creating an evnironment, or even a set of “best practices.” It’s really about allowing yourself to issue forth from the place of God deep within your heart. Even when the environment is clunky, or practices unskillful. People will connect from the deep place within them to the deep place within you, and that is where we will come to give and receive welcome. It’s “namaste” and “ubuntu”.
--- pics (Table; salad; clean and dity dishes --- check to see if I posted those elsewhere, though).The cranes of peace
the Camino?
So, I have met quite a number of folks who are doing research on the camino, or heard stories of them. There is at least one class walking into Santiago in the next couple of days, if they haven't already.
How much research really needs to happen?
Well, that question causes me to think through how committed I am to a long term project here - what am I really contributing?
However, almost each of us has been coming from a different place. I've met people of several age groups and degree programs. I've met several high school students walking, a few masters, and several PhD's. Then there is the teacher with his class. All of us have different approaches, different voices, and I think will have something to contribute. From the experience, the way one is changed, hospitlers and hospitality, to just about everything else related to this particular pilgrimage.
Today I had coffee with a PhD student from Poland, and we shared ideas, thoughts. She asked me some probing questions (I wish I had my recorder on) that helped me, challenged me, and supported me. I'd like to think our conversation was helpful to her. We are coming from different academic disciplines, with different approaches or methodologies, and different questions. But I think we can really learn from each other and aid one another.
Walking towards the Porto do Camino, we had the idea that there should be a forum for all of us
My definition of a Christian pilgrimage: intentional, purposeful, communal journey towards conversion. I'm open to suggestions, challenges and changes. For now, that's my contribution to the conversation. I think it's open enough to allow for a variety of modes and reasons for pilgrimage. It strikes at what I am aiming to effect by encouraging Holy Lingering.
Santiago is a decent sized, well, big city in Northern Spain. Quite different from the mostly pastoral Camino people so enjoy. There are a lot of reactions to it, some love it, some hate it, and a lot in between. Here are some pics that show the scene during a recent Medieval-theme festival.
I'm spending my last few days in Santiago wrapping up the retreat ministry with the last of interviews. I'm focusing on interviewing pilgrims who have recently arrived, but did not participate in the retreat ministry, so I can see how differently people experience and talk about their experience of Santiago.
Or, how pilgrims walk hundreds of miles, and why they must.
Or, how we can open our doors to strangers, and why we must.
Today's reading from the Gospel: Lord, when did we see you a stranger and welcome you? Hungry and feed you?
