The Pilgrimage Road

On May 26, 2004, I gathered with some Dear folks supportive of a Vision for Peace and my pilgrimage at a Chartes Labyrinth in one of the downtown churches. The Chartes Labyrinth has become a friend over the years, and the first "real" pilgrimage I took was to walk it at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco in '97. It was originally to be the beginning/ending for pilgrimages in the Middle ages, and I felt a need to connect with Pilgrims of Human History…..after all, Labyrinths and Mazes appear in ancient Sacred Sites. One of the blessings I received, was a card with Butterfly….the gift of REBIRTH and TRANSFORMATION….A totem for the Journey. We concluded my little send off with a meal and another couple of friends drove me to the AirPort to see me off.

I got to my destination and took the shuttle to the Elk Falls campsite. I set up my tent and prepared to "settle" into Rhythm in this one place until I felt the Spirit nudge me to move on. It would drizzle and rain most of the day and I found myself walking constantly. Walking into town, walking the paths. I would eat one meal a day and sometimes have some energy bars to take the edge off. I had no room in my pack for food. I discovered coffee in "tea bags" and over a camp candle flame I would make my morning coffee….a beloved ritual that I had not participated in for 6 years. Coffee was to be a Sacred Beverage along the journey.

The journaling excerpts are taken from my own journals and emails I managed to send to others along the way.

Before I go any further, I would like to list those Bright Lights who offered me Friendship, Strength, Prayer, Shared Vision…as I began this Part of my journey.

Doug Caine
Karen Caine
Liz Carlyon
Jan Fennell
Larry Fisk
Barb Higgins
Sandy Johnson
Barb Kinnie
Tunde Kocsis
Lynn and Cal Koch
Marlene Lacey
Wendy Lees
Kat and Paul Nelson
Sharon Neufeld
Judes North
Tara O'Sullivan
Indranie Perera
Bill Phipps
Carolyn Pogue
Marsha Read
Audrey and Bill Shakelton
Rendell, Rosemarie & Erica Sumlak
David Swann
Lesley Wilkinson
Michelle, Sam, Jackson & Nikko Wright
The Neighbourhood of Mission
Knox United and the FCJ's for their offering of Labyrinths to the general public.
and Bunny Stewart, who sent me a copy of a prayer by Thomas Merton, that I laminated and carried on my journey.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton