Our Journey Begins...July 11 and 12, 2018

The Call

Yet the Lord pleads with you still:
Ask where the good road is, the godly
paths you used to walk in, in the
days of long ago. Travel there and
you will find rest for your souls.
                                                                -Jerimiah 6:16

Image result for st. brigid's cross image

Many years have passed since I first heard of St. Brigid's Way. It has been an organized walk for 6 years now.  I have been wanting to walk it for about 5 years and today it has finaly happend.  My sister Kate and I arrived in Dublin this afternoon after about 20 hours of traveling and much work before leaving home to ensure that all responsibilities were attended to so that we could travel. I hope that I have not forgotten anything. Doug assures me that he and Trixie will be well. And so now, it is time, to follow this call to see where it will take us, where it will take me.

Preparations for walking St. Brigid's Way began almost a year ago when I wrote and asked for this year's dates, followed by ongoing communications throughout the year with me asking many questions.  Now it is June l3 and I am laying in a nice bed at the Carlton in Dublin, preparing for sleep and  traveling to Dundalk in the morning. It took so much work to leave home to ensure everything was done to leave Doug and Trixie, it has left me  exhausted, as I am falling asleep as I write and at the same time my heart grows excited as I think about the days to come

God calls us in such mysterious ways. I have known that I will walk this walk since I first heard of it.  My friend, Bishop John Thornton said a calling is something you cannot, not do. This longing, calls and calls and so here I am, on pilgrimgage with my sister to listen and follow this voice.  Brigid calls.

To start this pilgrimage we are asked to set an intention for ourselves, our community and our world.  In  the "Art of Pilgrimage", Phil Cousineau says at the heart of every Pilgrimage we seek to hear an oracle, touch a relic and experience God. This is truely my intention.  My intention in doing these things is to listen to the Call that is drawing me here.  To learn what that call means for me, to my community and to the world I serve.

And so with thanksgiving for Doug's blessing and encouragement for me to come here, and Angie and friends checking on Doug, and Bev for taking us to the airport, our journey begins.

Prayer: 

God of the Universe, our ever present guide, we thank you for leading us to adventures that challenge us and delight us.  We thank you for the many kindnesses that have made this journey posible.  Be with us now as we travel to Dundalk, to meet the other pilgrims and take our first step on the journey.  Amen



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