31 posts tagged “pilgrimage”
Spent the morning, after hanging the laundry out to dry, hiking with a group of folks who all live on O'ahu. We went to
Each day, when I walk between the church and my apartment, I cut through the school yard. If I'm not greeted with a cheery, pre-school "Hello Wevwend Mi-kewl" I am greeted by lovely "traces" of the children that bless my life here. Next week I'll be leading chapel for the pre-school on Monday and Wednesday, since Rev. Liz is off on her pilgrimage to Palestine, Israel and Egypt with some of our parishioners.
What home. What do you mean by home. What is home?
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.
so I'm signing off from Spain, and will reconnect somewhere in Kenya, God willing, or when I return to the States. I'm not sure I can go a full month without bloging! After a summer with almost no rain, Galician weather caught up to me, and I got a little damp on the feast day. Yet, just before 11:30pm last night, right when the fireworks were set to start, the wind pushed the rain away, and we had a star-filled night punctuated with the extravangaza of lazers, fireworks, music, and fiesta.
I did buy one "recuerdo" from this excursion. I've been wanting a Basque hat to wear, because they are solid black (always appropriate), and very similar in style to my personal favorite, the "golf" cap, in teh Scottish and Irish tradition. I wasn't going to, but I passed a hat shop, and they had one with the cathedral imprinted on the silk inside, so I decided this would make a good alternative to the mortar board if I finally get done with this DMin., so it's something I carry with me from this project to the celebration that emerges from completion of my research and reflection.
Now, a VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to the Evangelical Education Society. Not only did they enable my work in Spain this summer through one of the educational grants, but I also received an award through the previous grant cycle to go to Kenya. Having postponed that trip from last January, it's now time to follow up and follow through on that grant.
I am very excited, a little nervous, and very hopeful.
Of course, I will continue (if not in Kenya, then certinaly in the many months following my return) to reflect on and grow from this experience in Spain, as I will I am sure of my time in Kenya. Thanks to all who have kept with me in reading this far, for your comments and prayers. I hope you will enjoy what may come in the future!
Though I hate pics of myself, typically, I thought I'd give you a little treat and humor, so here is one of me and my hat:) Maybe this will help prevent skin cancer! And no, it's not a French beannie. They are quite different
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.
I think I've kept my blog relatively positive, avoiding complaining (though I've done plenty of that in my head!) and over-grandizing obstacles. However, there have been roadblocks and un expected challenges. And, there is a part of me that relishes in them, because I have learned as much or more from those experiences than from the "pleasantly holy." The "unpleasant" holy is just as important in our growing and learning in life.
I'll write more when I've had a little time and distance enough to write as fairly as possibile from my own perspective. In the mean time, I think it's safe to sum up some of the attitudes and forces one can run up against in offering a ministry here. I don't think you'll be surprised to find Pharisees and Ceaser as main challenges (that's a negative way of putting it, a more positive might be to say that both the government and the Church have an interest in conserving, but also in preventing people with mal intent). And of course money, which is where I will begin.
Economics. Moving into a place, it is important to understand the economics of the place, and how it interacts with other systems, like religion and politics. Everything from proper permits, advertising, rules and regulations on services provided, are part of the picture. Perhaps more important is the real impact of moving to a place and offering services. Consider WalMart. How does Walmart take into consideration existing businesses, and their economic impact on those who have always lived there, and always provided the services you are bringing.
Religion: A pilgrimage center that is well established has moved from what Turner noticed as a trend towards the marginal to being right at the center of the beauracracy of the religion. Feelings of ownership and possesiveness arise. This is not merely a problem of the institutional religion. Each and every person associated with the camino runs the risk of such possessiveness - I know what's best, and I don't need you here. Even I run the risk of that! It's important to listen and learn from folks who have experience and wisdom, and learn how to operate around them or with them, depending on the weather. Of course I have some criticisms of the closed-mindedness I see and have experienced with some in the host religion here, but there are plenty of criticisms for all kinds of people affiliated with the pilgrimage here.
Beauracracy: There is a lot of it, especially connected with the pilgrimage. In addition to the religious beauracracy, there are volunteer associations established to support, promote and "protect" (that can be a loaded word) the pilgrimage.
So, these are a few places where I probably could have run into trouble already. Fortunately, most people who inquired were cool with my project, and even supportive. I've found a number of people here who would be great allies on the ground and who already know how to navigate these forces. My learning will come in reflceting on how I handled or anticipated situations, and the feelings that they stir up (that's the part I learned from working in a hospital last summer), and then considering the impact of my project, were it to be come a life-long adventure, on what already exists: does the positive outweigh the negative impact? What are the moral implications of that impact, and how do they effect my hopes? Does it change them or outweigh them?
Enough for now. I'll write more later on this, and hopefully more on why I think my ideas could be a contribution to what is already happening here in this fantastic center of pilgrimage.
