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Pilgrimage West |
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Week Three Ramblings and Pictures One of the most familiar motifs of the Ancient Celts is the Knot of Eternity. Each thread wandered far from the center, then whorled back in again. Although the Celts left no descriptive writings of their art, the Knot of Eternity suggests this is a symbol of life’s journey, and the desire to return to the source that replenishes the soul. Such is the pilgrimage of life - to journey boldly out into the unknown, exploring new horizons and infinite possibilities, open to discovery and re-imagining, trusting in what cannot be seen…yet even in our most distant wanderings, our most extended travels, always keeping an eye cast towards home, warmed by the memories of the relationships that breath life into the ordinary, anchored by the beckoning reach of community that extends beyond miles and follows the pilgrim like the steady wind that blows over the desert of the southwest. Week 3 has been a wondrous week of one slot canyon after another, with the majestic hoodoos of Bryce Canyon mixed in. With names like Zebra / Tunnel / Buckskin / Wirepass / Wave / Antelope / Waterhole, each canyon is a miracle of nature, a persuasive sign of the creativeness of God. I have walked many a mile in sandy wash, climbed steep terrain in red sand as fine as our beaches, seen glorious sights that descriptive words cannot touch, and been stirred by the primeval land that unfolds in panoramic splendor. Tomorrow is moving day once again, as we begin our final week in Utah. While I have continued to be overwhelmed by the sheer rugged beauty of the land I walk in, I have found myself gazing eastward and sighing deeply, feeling the connections that keep my heart full as I continue this journey. I think of you all as I walk this desert land, and I pray that we will soon break bread together, and laugh together, and grow together in the loving Spirit of our nurturing God. Thanks be to God! |
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