When I began this blog, this pilgrimage of healing and wholeness it seemed like it would have a distinct beginning and end. It was targeted on going to Mexico for HSCT for Doug to stop the progress of MS. We had no idea things would turn out the way they have. A friend wrote the other day and she said that she had not ever thought about our lives as a pilgrimage. In truth I don't think I had, until after Doug got sick. Many, many years ago I longed to one day go on pilgrimage. The first pilgrimage I took was the Camino de Santiago. After returning, it did not tamper my desire for pilgrimage, if anything, it strengthened it. To be on pilgrimage is to look for the Holy, or to encounter the Holy. It is a journey of transformation. When we think of it in these terms, indeed, we don't have to go anywhere. Many of us live life, in search of the Holy, longing for transformation. I have learned you don't have to go anywhere to be on pilgrimage. Depending on how we choose to live our lives we may be on pilgrimage.
And so it is, our pilgrimage continues. Each morning we get up, not sure of the direction life will go. We continuously pray that our steps will be guided and that we will not walk alone. Each day we move forward, searching for the power greater than ourselves and putting our trust in the goodness of this force that moves and lives within and around us.
This journey is unpredictable. Some days are very tiring. Some days lift us and carry us. It feels as if we have peaked, and crossed the great mountain But like all great mountains there are smaller ones surrounding it. But we continue. Our friend Will said again today, Doug has come so far. Indeed he has. He is participating more and more in life each day. But our journey continues.
Health care has been such a part of this journey. We have been so immersed in the health care system. Our health care system saved Doug's life, but there have been so many ups and downs along the way. The nation is at a crossroad in providing quality care for all people. I pray that God's will be done as we seek to serve Christ in all persons on our journey, on our common pilgrimage.
God who Leads us, shine your light on our common path. Help us to seek to serve you in all persons. Help us to love one another no matter our differences. Encourage us when we become tired on this long journey. Bolster our resolve to seek you. Help us to keep on taking the next right step. Amen
Why is it that this journey you lead us to, opens our senses to open our minds and with it our hearts or is it hearts opens our minds? Life IS the pilgrimage, all the paths we take to walk in life is the scenery, the learning, the remembering and the "sorting", is it not? How prescious are the meetings of people who become part of it. Some stay some pass through and we gather as we make those life touches. What you & Doug have done by sharing your thoughts, prayers and moments have left such a mark on any and all who moved into this circle during this journey. Faith and hope has been found, rekindled and embraced by each us.....thank you dear lord for all of this as we pray for continued healing and daily progress. Thank you Eileen & Doug for helping Will & I open and share this with you.
ReplyDelete