Pilgrimages

Growing up, I always heard about people taking pilgrims across countries sometimes to important religious sites, sometimes to cathedrals and churches. I embarked on a weeks long pilgrimage that took me across South-East England allowing me to see about a quarter of the United Kingdom, but most importantly, I was able to visit seven cathedrals, three minsters, and nine other churches during this week. I would begin my day at morning prayers, and then as I traveled to new cities I would attend communion services, midday prayers, evening vespers and other services. I would have conversations with the clergy of the church as I explained what I was doing in the United Kingdom, and sometimes parishioners would gather to listen as I told my story to how I got there, and why church is important to me. This experience was one of the most impactful journeys that I have had during my year in the United Kingdom, and it allowed me to walk alongside hundreds of worshiping parishioners, in traditions and denominations that I am not part of allowing them to share things that make up big part of who they are with me.

Based on my experiences of this pilgrimage, I would recommend that you take one yourself, now that does not mean that you need to travel to Rome, or Israel, or even take a tour of churches in your region. You can go on a pilgrimage by going hiking, or camping but center your trip around prayer and Christ. Build your day around Christ, prayer, and scripture reading and if you do that, then any day can be part of a pilgrimage, or even part of your daily pilgrimage on the road of following Christ.

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