I developed this blog intending to write about God’s Kingdom and the treasures we see around us. With a trip to France and Spain planned, I imagined sharing those adventures from this platform. Plans change. The coronavirus outbreak is reminding me you cannot rely on plans. All you can count on is today, and even that can change with lightning speed. I still want to write about kingdoms and treasures. You and I have the individual Kingdoms that we rule and within each kingdom are things we treasure. Your kingdom may be experiencing a shakedown right now. Mine is. The material world is rapidly changing, but the Kingdom of Heaven has not been altered by our current chaos.
Two weeks ago, I was preparing for a trip of a lifetime. I was preparing to be a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago. Within twenty-four hours, I was planning to cancel my trip. Out of stubbornness and in the spirit of the Camino, I have decided to embrace the calling of a pilgrim. A wise counselor recently said that my pilgrimage began the moment I made the decision to go. “The Pilgrim is one who ventures into a foreign land, who makes himself an alien, who loses contact with the familiar props of his ordinary life, and who deprives himself of all help other than the charity that people show to those whom they do not know, but who have the indications of being poor”[1] All of us are living in a foreign land today.
The world is not running on what is ordinary right now. Many of you will need the charity of others to sustain you in the coming weeks and months. Many of you will offer charity to others. I am leaning on the charity of my community to stay connected during a time of isolation. I am asking God to show me how I can offer charity to others. I am exploring my identity as a pilgrim. A true pilgrimage leads us towards God and his Kingdom.
Victor and Edith Turner wrote, “Pilgrimage may be thought of as an extroverted mysticism, just as mysticism is an introverted pilgrimage.”[2] Confounded or mystified, all of us are living in unchartered territory. How you respond to this extraordinary time will define your experience. A pilgrim is typically on the move. This may be an external movement or an internal one. If you are confined to your home, as many of us are, movement may feel limited. Internal movement is one of the things you can control. Meaningful movement is birthed out of reflection.
Too many of us react to our circumstances. As a therapist, I often teach clients the difference between reacting and responding. Life-giving responses are preceded by moments of reflection. The media are shoveling opinions and directives about COVID-19 at mind swelling speeds. You are being told what to think and how to behave. Fear has become palpable. Yet, as I hiked yesterday, I saw the spirit of the pilgrim lighting the way. Most people smiled, and some offered kind words as we passed each other. Out of respect, everyone moved far enough away to maintain “social distance.” But as I looked at the eyes of these individuals, I saw hope in a time of darkness.
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and everything else will follow.”[3] In the eyes of each person I passed, I saw the essence of the Father’s Kingdom. I saw a treasure. You were created in the image of God. Nothing in this world can change that. All the emotions swirling around your circumstances do not define the essence of who you are. They are a normal reaction to a world of uncertainty. However, I wonder where there may be treasures to be found in your current circumstance? Where can you find hope, consolation, compassion, or courage? I am finding hope in gratitude. I am finding consolation as I move towards love. I am finding compassion as I listen to other’s heartaches. Courage is rising as I keep my eyes on today. Tomorrow is too heavy a burden to bear.
To be a pilgrim is to travel light. If you only carry what you need today, you will see the world with different eyes. What I see today is that you are a treasure. Your life and your presence in this world matters. The Kingdom Jesus spoke of in the gospels is our greatest treasure. We are facing a time of uncertainty, and I do not have an answer that will fix anyone’s circumstances. But as you reflect, I hope the Imago Dei in you will rise up. I pray that you will be blessed with kindness and hope. I pray that you will begin to see treasures all around you!
[1] Brian Grogan, Alone and on Foot: Ignatius of Loyola (Dublin, Ireland: Veritas Publications), 58.
[2] Brian O’ Leary, SJ, God Ever Greater: Exploring Ignatian Spirituality (Dublin: Messenger Publications), 38.
[3] Matthew 6:33 (par)