An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

Huntington Beach State Park   "God called the dry ground “land,”  and the gathered waters  he called “seas.”  And God saw that it was good."  Genesis 1:10 For many years Elaine and I would spend 10 days in Acadia N.P.  walking the carriage trails and climb some of the easier mountains.  The Wonderland section for us is  the most refreshing, spiritually renewing, aspect of our time.  At Wonderland we would sit on the rocks beside the ocean watching and listening to the breaking waves. Sometimes they would break gently other times they crashed ferociously.  Recently we spent a weekend  with family who live in Murrells Inlet, S.C  We visited Huntington Beach State Park, toured Atalaya Castle and had a glimpse the beach. Before catching our flight home, we spent time at the park enjoying a light picnic and standing at the edge of a sandy beach.  What a contrast between the rocky coast of Maine and the smooth sands of...

Wonderland, Acadia N.P. "Now Jesus parents went to Jerusalem  every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old,  they went up according to custom." Luke 2:41-42   The story of Jesus' parents making their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem is a familiar story. Mary and Joseph are in Jerusalem for three days. It's time to leave. They travel a days journey only to discover Jesus isn't with them or any other family members. They return to Jerusalem to find him in the temple listening and commenting to the rabbis.  Pilgrimages have similarities. What strikes me about this pilgrimage is its similarity to any pilgrimage. The destination is a sacred or holy place. A pilgrimage may well have some confusion or disorientation. There may be an unexpected epiphany related to the sacred place. Our Wonderland pilgrimage has those similarities.   For us, the Wonderland section of Acadia N.P. is a sacred place where we experience God's presence. T...

"Surely God is my help;     the Lord is the one  who sustains me." Psalm 54:4 I don't know about you, but for me the pandemic has put a strain on my spiritual life. I keep up with my daily Bible study, devotional reading, centering prayer, and meditation. Sunday worship is where there is strain. Gathering in the church with people I know, having scripture read, prayers prayed, hymns sung, sharing communion, is diminished. Giving adequate thanks to the Lord in the sanctuary is diminished. A diminished relationship to the Lord is one main consequence of not being able to sufficiently give thanks in God's sanctuary. As I searched the scriptures,  Psalm 54   spoke to my concern .   Psalm 54 is a prayer beginning as a plea to God for deliverance and vindication from arrogant foes and ruthless people making murderous threats. The prayer expresses confidence that God is listening and will sustain his life and repay his enemies justly.  The psalm ends with a p...