Pilgrimage
Monday, October 19, 2026
A Daily Rhythm
The alarm sounds at 5 a.m., and I get ready to walk our sweet Australian shepherd, Lovey. When we adopted her from Big Dog Ranch, we were told that this athlete needed a thirty-minute walk each morning and evening. Over the two years she has lived with us, those walks have become our shared rhythm.
We begin in the quiet darkness. I listen to Lectio Divina and podcasts through my AirPods while Lovey scans the landscape for danger or surprise. We settle into an even pace of about twenty minutes per mile. I encourage her with “Good girl” and “Let’s go,” though she rarely moves faster. Still wary of unfamiliar dogs and people, she stays close—and expects me to stay close, too. As a herding dog, she prefers to set the pace and follow a familiar path.
The Liturgy of Walking
These walks have become little liturgies of rhythm, pace, and repetition. In God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul, Mark Buchanan writes:
"We walk with a God who seems in no particular hurry and who, it seems, enjoys the going there as much as the getting there. A God who is slow."
When I slow down to accompany Lovey, I see differently than I do while driving or even running. I notice people, trees, birds, butterflies, and even the occasional rocket launch. The pace draws my attention to my breathing and to the small things around me. I become attuned to Lovey’s caution and her desire to remain close. Our walk creates a groove that brings us into harmony. We set out, but we also return home. Our pace, route, and companionship all have a purpose. I am exercising Lovey, but I am also building trust, keeping her safe and well, and guiding her toward peace.
When a Journey Becomes a Pilgrimage
When God gave me the word pilgrimage this year, I began exploring what it meant. I came to a simple definition: a physical journey with spiritual significance.
Our lives are journeys of epic proportions. They become pilgrimages when we seek God and discern the spiritual meaning of our past, present, and future. We are walking toward God—and walking with God.
Yet we can also walk past Him, resisting His direction and choosing our own way. God does not force Himself on us; love does not work that way. Lovey could break free at any time. She is stronger and faster than I am. But she trusts me and wants to remain with me. She wants me to lead her home—to the place where she is safe, fed, and loved.
An Invitation to Trust
Do you trust God enough to walk with Him? Will you make His path your path and journey with Him toward home?
Pilgrimage is not easy, nor is it meant to be. It is:
· Formational — it shapes who we are.
· Personal — it draws us into a lived relationship with God.
· Purposeful — it leads us toward home.
We come to know God by experiencing Him in ways that are formational, personal, and purposeful.
Are you ready to begin?
Set your alarm.
The greatest adventure begins just beyond your comfort zone.
Deacon Kim Allen
A Pilgrim’s Blessing
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” —Psalm 84:5 (NIV)
Continue the Journey
Would you like to learn more about pilgrimage?
There is still time to join the Women’s Bible Study on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Community Center. The group is studying Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore.
What’s on your mind as we walk together?
Have a question about faith, Scripture, Anglicanism, or following Jesus?
ASK THE RECTOR →
