Preparation for Pilgrimage

[Ida Cote-Persson]

To all,

I received the following from Father Joseph Nietlong of Saint Helen's Catholic Mission in Oracle, AZ regarding preparation for pilgrimage: 

Here's the thought : Pilgrimage is to be taken, I think, as a paradigm of our Journey through life. There sure are moments of joy, and those of sorrow, moments of sheer pleasure and those of sheer pain and hurts. There will be moments when the road or path is down hill and  others when the road winds or goes straight and uphill all the way. There are moments when you are caught up in the hussle and bustle of the crowd and there will be somber, quiet times when you are lost in your own thoughts. There are times when you will wonder who or what ever brought this mad crazy world into existence, but there will be times when as the psalmist wrote; 'the whole world is charged (filled) with the splendor and glory of God. Through all these you come back with a sense of a renewed purpose to accept all of life and your place in it--before God and other human beings. Own all the negatives and positive in yourself, be gentle with self and others and strive to be happy  as you spread happiness in your corner of the world. We are nothing but pilgrims on our way to God. The time it takes for each one of us to complete our pilgrimage varies, short or long the duration matters less than the experience. Some travel heavily ladden and are festooned with the things of this world. Others travell light with only their hearts to carry. Some try to carry their home  with them while  others feel at home wherever they go. But lots of Americans, like snails prefer to carry their homes with them and are so entangled with accessories and want to catch and imprison the experience in photographs and videos and end up being distracted from enjoying the presence  while other just simply live out every moment as if it were the last the've got.  Hope this 'on the spur of the moment'  random thought suffices to answer you request.-----------------------Joseph

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