THE PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE

Thanks to a sermon I heard recently, I was inspired to watch a movie entitled The Way. God is good like that with His never-ending ripple effect of how everything in life is connected. We can learn something from everything that happens if we are open to it.

I won’t share much about the movie in case you feel inspired to watch it yourself. I enjoyed it. A simple synopsis is a father unexpectedly finds himself walking the Camino de Santiago, which is a roughly 500-mile trek. He meets a few people along the way, and they end up traveling together. The father is challenged on his journey and is changed by the end of it.

There are many great takeaways from the movie. Three I reflected upon are:

1-We are all on the pilgrimage of life.

Our pilgrimage is walking this road of life on earth until the Lord calls us home to heaven. We all have different starting points and times, as well as ending ones. Each of our pilgrimages takes different roads consisting of twists, bumps, hills, and potholes along the way.  Our ending destination is what is of paramount importance, not particularly the specific roads we travel.

One thing that remains constant, though, is God is leading each of our paths.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  –Psalm 16:11  (NIV)

 

Photo courtesy of Images by John ‘K’ under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

2-We meet many pilgrims along the way.

During our pilgrimage, we will meet many different pilgrims who help shape and mold our lives. We have the honor of knowing some of them for a long time and some for a short season. One truth is we all experience and have baggage, hurts, and struggles, each unique in itself. When we realize we are similar, we can extend Jesus’ love, compassion, and mercy to our fellow pilgrims. A listening ear and understanding heart can bring healing and grace. We can help others grow deeper in their relationship with Christ. We all need each other.

One thing that remains constant is we were made for relationships, first a relationship with Christ as the cornerstone, and then with others.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” –Matthew 22:37-39  (NIV)

 

Photo courtesy of BK under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

3-We learn lessons daily on this pilgrimage.

Our goal on our pilgrimage is to journey closer to God and become the people He intends us to be. We should be growing more and more into His image. Helping other pilgrims in their journey with God is the other goal. Through the different events in our lives, we can learn lessons that help us grow in faith and trust. We also learn from other pilgrims. They can encourage us, and we can do the same for them. Our hearts can soften, and we will be better reflections of Jesus when we take time to see what God is teaching us. How is He revealing Himself through the events of our lives and when we take time to be still with Him?

One thing that remains constant is we continue to grow in Christ.

…We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.  –Colossians 1:9-10  (NIV)

 

Photo courtesy of BK under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

 

I encourage you this week to take a few minutes to reflect on your pilgrimage.

• Are you following the path God intends for you?
• Are relationships above the things of this world? Is your relationship with God first in your life, followed by other people?
• Are you learning and growing closer to Christ?

 

Be encouraged to take a step toward growth in any area you feel God is calling you to. All you have to do is call to Him, and He will guide your path.

 

May you also be encouraged to take time to reflect on these three quotes this week…

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come.”  –Zig Ziglar

“Those who walk with God, always reach their destination.” –Henry Ford

 “We’re all just walking each other home.”  –Ram Dass

 

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.  –Exodus 13:21  (NLT)