Eric Clapton, an English guitarist and singer-songwriter once remarked: “I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage. Some people will see their role as a pilgrim in terms of setting up a fine family, or establishing a business inheritance. Everyone's got their own definition.” Psalm 84:1-7 reminds us: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”
A pilgrimage is principally defined as a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion. Pilgrimages are often regarded as a pious expedition that can lead to the discovery of the unknown, or accumulating further in-depth knowledge, meaning, or verification. However, a pilgrimage can take many different forms. It could be said to include travel within a definitive purpose of justification. Pilgrimages are often personal and sententious, they may accomplish a long-awaited ambition or yearning. Deeper understanding may result at the conclusion of each crusade. However, sometimes they may be at the special request of God which adds even more significance to the quest. Genesis 12:1-9 reminds us: “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.”
Pilgrimages may evoke from many varied and diverse cultural backgrounds. They can be situated in a variety of different geographical worldwide locations. Religion may be the principal purpose, with many instigated from specific Bible incidents relating to important or notable achievements or events that have made a significant impact on the general ecclesiastical progress of civilization from past Godly dealings.
For some, life itself can be deemed as a personal pilgrimage. It is a spiritual journey that also encounters the ups and downs of an everyday existence. It hopefully accepts the good and rejects the bad. It encompasses growth, knowledge, exploration, success and failure, but perhaps more importantly, the very special rewards of life, as these are often given by the grace of God.
Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Amelia Earhart, an American aviator once remarked: “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”
There are many destinations throughout the world that, according to individual belief, religion or culture, have special meaning, and are regularly visited. Lourdes in France is said to have become one of the most prominent in northwestern Europe. The special healing properties, believed to be contained in its renowned spring water provide hope, healing and encouragement to many. Combined with the evening torchlight Marian procession, it fulfills a high point in any pilgrimage.
In prominent Christian pilgrimages, Jerusalem is probably one of the most noted, or favored as so many events relating to the last days of Jesus Christ before his earthly death occurred there. These include the events of the Passion, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection etc. Other prominent places of importance, such as Bethlehem, are also included in the Holy Land of pilgrimage. As such, it remains an important place to visit.
Pilgrimage will always have a special place in the heart of society as a source of learning, understanding and verification of the truth. There is no better experience than to see with one’s own eyes, the teachings, stories or actions of others. The meaningful words that may have been expressed so eloquently in former years to spark the initial flame, eventually become a reality and the real truth is finally explained and revealed. One may form a picture of reality in their mind as to what life was like in biblical days, and a good imagination may help considerably, but the real thing or experience can never be surpassed by thoughts alone, reality is the perfect source of truth.
Each pilgrimage is purposeful, meaningful and usually by individual choice. The conclusive satisfaction attained is often considered of great benefit and enlightenment in itself. The contentment attained is often considered immeasurable and usually, regarded as truly and wholly, worthwhile. Hebrews 11:13-16 reminds us: “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
Amen.
