Leona and Richard Keltner are a few weeks into their pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Over mountains and valleys, through rain and sunshine, they are experiencing a holy walk. Along with pilgrims from all around the world they are offering our prayers on the altars of Holy Places along the way. They are having holy conversations, holy silences and holy meals. They are following in the footsteps of pilgrims dating back the time of the Apostle Paul. It will be fascinating to hear how this has changed them.
In 1510 Martin Luther took a pilgrimage to Rome. His superiors thought it would be good for him to walk 700 miles to overcome his doubts and struggles. As with everything, Brother Martin took to the road enthusiastically. One can imagine the sights he saw on the pilgrim road. He would have journeyed with other pilgrims, merchants, and people on their way from a place of scarcity looking for a place of abundance. Brother Martin, tired and hungry I am sure, walked over a hillside outside of Rome and would see with his own eyes the center of Christendom for the first time.
Brother Martin's excitement would soon wane when he witnessed the great disparity of the wealth of the basilica with the poverty around it. As a good pilgrim, he crawled up
the stairs as penance only to be greeted by someone trying to sell him a token of accomplishment. He returned to Wittenberg having his doubts and struggles replaced with a holy mission.
Just as Leona and Richard will be changed from their pilgrimage so was Brother Martin.
We do not need to walk a settled pilgrim road to have similar faith changes. One could begin a prayer life of walking, taking with you our list of people to pray for that is in your bulletin. Or one could begin a Bible reading pilgrimage. Another Idea is to buy yourself your own set of crayons or colored pencils and begin a drawing pilgrimage. The point is to begin a spiritual journey with a first intentional step. Like Leona, Richard and Brother Martin, every pilgrimage starts with the first step and then another, rain or shine, hill or valley.
