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| 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."
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. The beauty, the radiant sun, the rhythm of the waves are signs we are in God's presence. The two day Interstate journey is a stressful event in itself with road construction sometimes causing disorientation. Sometimes sitting on the rocks and "soaking in God" has led to insights.
Our lifetime pilgrimage, it seems to me, has similarities.
Our destination is being enfolded in the loving presence of God. Our journey along the way may be confusing as we observe or experience human interactions. Disorientation may occur in relocation as we move from one place to another or experience the unexpected.
The Good News of a pilgrimage says:
God was with Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to Jerusalem.
God was with Elaine and me.
God is with you on your lifetime pilgrimage. Whatever the unexpected events or confusion or stresses, God is with you.
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