Friday Five: Post-Pilgrimage Edition
posted by Reverendmother
Hello friends, I am just back from a lovely time of pilgrimage in the isle of Iona, "cradle of Scottish Christianity." It has provided much food for thought, to say the least, and so, to keep the pilgrim mojo going:
1. Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? (however you choose to define the term) Share a bit about it. If not, what's your reaction to the idea of pilgrimage? Many would consider my trip to the Holy Land a pilgrimage but I was kinda distracted by the Dir of Christian Ed having an affair with the tour guide while traveling with 25 church members. There were moments that felt "pilgrimagey" in spite of the distractions.
2. Share a place you've always wanted to visit on pilgrimage. I want to pilgrimage to Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France.
3. What would you make sure to pack in your suitcase or backpack to make the pilgrimage more meaningful? Or does "stuff" just distract from the experience? Well, the most obvious is a camera with lots of memory cards. But aside from the camera, I want room to bring things home rather than carting extra stuff with me on the round trip.
4. If you could make a pilgrimage with someone (living, dead or fictional) as your guide, who would it be? (I'm about thisclose to saying "Besides Jesus." Yes, we all know he was indispensable to those chaps heading to Emmaus, but it's too easy an answer) I want a Harry Potter tour guided by JKR. I want an Ireland tour and English Wesley et al. tour each guided by Billy Abraham. I want an Austrian/Germany tour by an engaging music historian. I want a tour of Switzerland led by someone who knows how to show me the beauty without killing my joints. I want a French tour with tours for both art and religious significance. I want tour of Italy led by a Benedictine. I think the right guide helps make any "tour" a pilgrimage of significance.
5. Eventually the pilgrim must return home, but can you suggest any strategies for keeping that deep "mountaintop" perspective in the midst of everyday life? (don't mind me, I'll be over here taking notes) The best I have: pictures, lots of pictures. Maybe a travel diary so you'll know what was going on when you took those pictures. And force everyone you know who didn't go with you to listen to your stories over and over and then make the ones who did go with you listen to the events they experienced told from your perspective. :)
10 comments:
Hey since you're packing light when we're in Ireland... I'll get lots of souvenirs for you to carry home in your spacious luggage for me okay?
Fun early play and hey, I like the reminder in your #3--too often I try to travel so light I return back home with less than I should have bought and got, in terms of gifts and things for myself.
Oh, yes, France and Italy...good ideas all around. I always bring home more than I went with, that's part of the fun.
Wow, great answers, especially #4. I want to get those down somewhere on my computer so when I get the pilgrim/wanderlust I have some ideas!
ICK on number 1. Just ICK. But I love the rest of it.
I always tell my students to bring an empty suitcase!
Oh, Vicar, I want to come with you on every one of those tour/ pilgrimages!
Great play!
Mags
They sound like wonderful trips! I'll carry your extra lugguage if I can join in!Great play!
Wow, are you for real about #1? That's terrible!
Your pilgrimages sound cool - I can say for certain that Bavaria is worth every cent. Especially the beer money!
Prost!
Hey if you decide to do another pilgrimage or lead one, I want to come.
That had to be yucky one with an affair going on.
The sad news is that #1 is quite true.
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