Walking the way of Jesus
DAY 1
Walking amongst the Cloud of Witnesses
Start: First Presbyterian Church
Break: Boulevard Park - 1.5 miles
End: First Presbyterian Church - Total 7 miles
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Hebrews 12:1-2b (The Message)
Americans love the idea of the self-made person… The great irony though is that none of us are truly self-made. We are all a product of ideas, culture, images, lessons that we learned and took in from the people that went before us. We grow in the soil of ancestors who have gone before us.
The cloud of witnesses passage comes right after a long list of the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. That list is all people who came before them, people who lived out faith, but are no longer alive. So the cloud the author speaks of seems to be a gathering of those who walked before us. We live and move and have our being fortified by the words and actions of a multitude, some of whom we never even met. Nevertheless, they have impacted us.
Today, take an inventory of those witnesses in your life. Think of the ones who came before us and the blessing they left. Even the ones you may have never met in person. Remember the stories, the lessons, and even the laughs. All of us grow in soil that has been enriched by the many saints who went before us.
Lastly, think of the most important faith guide, remember the words of Hebrews, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it.“ Of all the ones who came before us, there is no one more important than Jesus. Spend time with Him today and celebrate the gift of the Spirit that means we are always in relationship.
As You Walk Today
Notice the many reminders around us of those who have gone before us. Even though we are a relatively young city, there are icons everywhere to those who came before us. Give thanks for all who came before you.
Blessing
A Pilgrim’s Prayer by Nineveh Murray
Dear God,
We ask your blessing as we travel today in spirit;
Guide our minds as we learn of those who came before us, traversing the pilgrim way.
Give us a hunger to seek your face in paths through fields,
along roads trod by many seeking the blessing of your presence.
Nurture our fellowship
And help us to see each other as a brother or sister
Sharing the journey to your blessed kingdom.
Amen.
DAY 2
Walking amongst the Cloud of Witnesses
Start: Marine Park in Fairhaven
Break: Woodstock Farm - 4.5 miles
End #1: Lost Lake Parking Lot - Total 9 miles
End #2: Clayton Beach - Additional 1.5 miles
God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. Luke 1:79 (The Message)
Jesus tells us to walk in the light, I can’t think of better advice. The life of bondage is fashioned in the dark amidst the secrets we keep. The challenge with walking in the light is that the light casts shadows. The more light, the more distinct the shadow. The more we walk in the light, the more we become aware of the shadows.
This is the hard reality of our life in the light, it comes with a shadow. That shadow is part of us until we someday live in the renewed earth where all tears are washed away. We are people made in the image of God, and we are broken. We inflict pain, we make poor decisions, we harm even when we seek to do good. The shadow is part of the journey in the light. As Isaiah put it, I am a person of unclean lips and I live amongst people of unclean lips. The closer we journey to the light, the darker the shadow appears.
I don’t think we are called to celebrate our shadow, but I think we are called to acknowledge it and be honest about it. It follows us wherever we may go, we might as well own up to it. Early on I tried different methods of scrubbing it out. I have not found any of those to work. The outside-in method of shadow reduction has not been successful. Yet, There is a way; we can fill ourselves with light and truth. This is an inside-out journey. As we welcome the light inside it is able to accomplish what we cannot on our own. The challenge is we will never see the reduction.
But someday Luke tells us that God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. Today walk that way amidst the many shadows of our lives and this world, trusting in the one who is the Light.
As You Walk Today
Notice the shadows on your path. How do they feel different than walking in the light? What does it mean to walk in the light? What does it mean to welcome your shadow as part of walking in the light? Give thanks for the light. Welcome all that it brings.
Blessing
A Pilgrim’s Prayer
O God,
Be for us our companion on the walk,
Our guide at the crossroads,
Our breath in our weariness,
Our protection in danger,
Our refuge on the Way,
Our shade in the heat,
Our light in the darkness,
Our consolation in our discouragements,
And our strength in our intentions.
So that with your guidance
we may arrive safe and sound
at the end of the Road
enriched with grace and virtue
may we return safely to our homes
filled with joy.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
DAY 3
Walking with hands open
Start: Lake Padden Park
Break: Lake Padden Loop - 3 miles
End: Bloedel Donovan Park - Total 10 miles
All the creatures look expectantly to you to give them their meals on time. You come, and they gather around; you open your hand and they eat from it. If you turned your back, they’d die in a minute— Take back your Spirit and they die, revert to original mud; Send out your Spirit and they spring to life— the whole countryside in bloom and blossom. Ps 104:28-29 The Message)
One of the lies I bought early on was that the only way to change was through hard work. I love this lie. I am still a believer in hard work. I still subscribe to “the work and play hard” mentality, although Now, I don’t expect this to transform me. Hard work might result in better manners, but it will never change the inside.
The good news of Jesus is that we can be changed, but not by work - by grace. Jesus is grace upon grace, every day of our lives. We are changed by receiving the grace of Jesus that pours out all around us. Our work, if it is work, is to put ourselves in places where we can better receive grace. The challenge is this is different for each of us.
This is why pilgrims walk with their hands open. We don’t know where the grace will be today, so we walk with our hands open, ready to receive the grace when it comes. If our hands are full, we have no room to receive.
Look around today, pay attention, keep watch. The grace may be on the path, it may be sitting on your right, or it may be above you. The grace may come in a word, a phrase, a ray of light, or a bubbling brook. Your job is to walk expectantly, trusting in the God of Love to shower you with the grace you need to be transformed. Keep your hands open ready to receive it, “the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.”
As You Walk Today
Walk with your hands open. Does that feel different than you usually walk? Now walk with your hand shut and in your pockets, does that feel different? Try to notice all that is going on around you.
Blessing
A Friendship Blessing by John O’Donohue in To Bless the Space Between Us
May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.
May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where
there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness.
May this change you.
May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you.
May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging.
May you treasure your friends.
May you be good to them
and may you be there for them;
may they bring you all the blessings, challenges, truth, and light
that you need for your journey.
May you never be isolated.
May you always be in the gentle nest of belonging with your anam ċara.
DAY 4
Travel Lightly
Start: Hovander Park
Break: Loop - 4 miles
End: Hovander Park - Total 10 miles
Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light. Matthew 10: 9-10 The Message
We are all unique, but most neophytes make the same mistakes. First time rock climbers always rely on their arms and don’t use their legs well. First time writers are too verbose, obfuscating their message with a plethora of superfluous words and phrases. First time pilgrims always pack too much. We don’t need half of what we carry around.
The old-timers on the Camino De Santiago all say that we carry our fears in our backpacks. We are afraid of what is to come, so we like to be prepared. In the process we end up more tired than we need be, lugging around extra pounds of unnecessary junk.
I think this might be part of the reason that Jesus tells His disciples to travel lightly when they go out to minister. In our fear we think that we don’t have enough for the task, but we have the Spirit. When we travel with the Spirit (and we always do) we have what we need. What are you lugging around that you don’t need?
Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago carry a rock from their home. When they arrive at the Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross) they leave their stone, and whatever other metaphorical baggage they need to let go of. Pick up a rock this morning and carry it for a mile. Name it whatever the baggage is that you need to release. If nothing comes to mind, invite the Spirit to reveal something to you as you walk. When we get to the mile marker we will leave the rock, along with your extra weight. Don’t go back tomorrow and pick it up. You don’t need it, let it stay there.
As You Walk Today
What are you carrying today? Make an inventory in your mind. What are you carrying metaphorically? What might be superfluous? What would it mean to travel lightly?
Blessing
Celtic Benediction by John Phillip Newell
Glory be to you, O God, for the gift of life unfolding through those who have gone before me.
Glory be to you, O God, for your life planted within my soul and every soul coming into the world.
Glory be to you, O God, for the grace of new beginnings placed before me in every moment and encounter of life.
Glory, glory, glory
for the grace of new beginnings in every moment of life.
DAY 5
Walking Reconciled
Start: Bloedel Donovan Park
Break: Downtown Library - 4 miles
End #1: Squalicum Park - Total 10 miles
End #2: Bloedel Donovan Park - Total 15 miles
In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises. Gal 3:28 28-29 The Message
The good news of Jesus is the new reality, the Kingdom of God. This is a kingdom of all sorts of joyful inversions. The outcasts are now included. The poor are rich. The last are now first. The underprivileged are privileged and we are all now one in Christ.
It doesn’t look that way in the world. The world still has poor, marginalized outcasts. The world still measures humans by all sorts of inane and dopey criteria, but not the kingdom. In the kingdom we are welcomed, included, and we belong. In the Kingdom we are all one and equal.
This is not great news for the rich and the privileged who value their status of being insiders, but it is great news for the rest of us. There is no longer a first class cabin for the elite and endowed. There is no more fast track for fat cats. In Jesus there is no racism, sexism, or bigotry, for we are all one. The challenge now is how do we live this out in a world that is solidly built on every ism we can think of.
Pilgrims live this out every day. Pilgrims see only pilgrims. There is no steerage path on pilgrimage. We are one, united in Jesus with different gifts and talents and roles, but one nonetheless. Celebrate the unity today. What can you do to lean into Kingdom life today?
As You Walk Today
Notice your fellow pilgrims. Think of all the pilgrims you travel with? Who are you tempted to look “down on” or “up to”? What would it mean to walk the kingdom path without a pecking order?
Blessing
Prayer Song from Ghana from The Soul of a Pilgrim by Christine Valters Painter
Journeying God,
Pitch your tent with mine so that I may not be deterred
by hardship, strangeness, doubt.
Show me the movement I must make
toward a wealth not dependent on possessions,
toward a wisdom not based on books,
toward a strength not bolstered by might,
toward a god not confined to heaven.
Help me to find myself as I walk in others’ shoes.