What kind of journey are you on? Is it a “pilgrimage”?
Thinking about pilgrims, I have two very different images in my head. The first are the figures that I decorate with at Thanksgiving- rosy cheeked, happy looking people. I doubt the people that arrived on the Mayflower were as cheery as my decorations. The second image is a steady stream of people in Nevers, France. These two groups have something in common, it’s about the journey, and how it changes you.
The group of people that arrived on the Mayflower were a brave, determined group. They landed in a new place, with a different climate, terrain, and circumstances that they could not have imagined. Looking for a new life, they chose to keep building because moving forward, even in a scary new place, is preferable to what they left behind.
The convent of St. Gildard in Nevers, France, is a pilgrimage spot for many. It is where you can find the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette Soubirous. It is also a stop on the way to Compostela, Spain, walking on the way of St. James. People come for different reasons. One lady I met had driven all night from Belgium just to sit in the replica of the grotto of Lourdes to pray before returning home. One was walking to Compostela, just staying for the night. I would keep a tally of how many people from different countries that crossed my path. The most was 20 different countries.
My sister and I made a pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2019. We visited Paris, Lourdes, and Nevers. There were some “touristy” visits on our trip, but our main focus was the healing waters of Lourdes. We were enthusiastic pilgrims, participating in processions, rosaries, and drinking and washing in the water. Were there miracles and healing? Most certainly. Perhaps it was spending 12 days with my sister in close quarters, or surviving la canicule (the heat wave) with no air conditioning. Maybe a little of both and so much more.
Pilgrims are actively looking for something. The reason is as varied as the person. Possible reasons are peace, answers to life decisions, or for many; physical and spiritual healing. The journey takes you to a place you have never been and you are different on the other side.
Every stay at St. Gildard had different outcomes in my life. I found answers that I didn’t know I was seeking. I got to know myself in different ways. My journey is not over- nor is yours. I don’t have to go to France to find the answers. They are there, I just have to take the first step and move towards them. I may not be where I am going, but I am sure not where I was.
What about you? Where are you in your travels/pilgrimage? What are you seeking? Are you leaving something scary or uncomfortable behind or do you need some healing? Our journeys can take us to new, and unknown places. Are you brave enough to get going? Come on, let’s go!
