The Road Home

simplicity // 19
the Road Home

“If we say ‘Yes’ to Christ’s call to follow him, our discipleship asks of us to follow a man who had nowhere to lay his head.”

So writes Esther de Waal in her wonderful book, The Celtic Way of Prayer. And as we try to follow Jesus into the wilderness this Lent, it’s worth pausing a little while longer to ask where such a road could take us. It’s a pilgrimage, of sorts.

Typically, we imagine pilgrimage to have a specific destination. Jerusalem. Santiago de Compostela. Canterbury... But the Celts had a different understanding which could help us, here. It was unique, in fact, in the Christian world.

For them, there was no fixed point to a pilgrimage; they used a different word, even – peregrinatio - which is almost untranslatable, but infers “seeking, quest, adventure, wandering”. It was an outward journey which symbolised a prompting from within, to take the longer, inward journey of the soul.

“Ready to go wherever the Spirit might take them,” writes de Waal, “seeing themselves as ‘guests of the world’, what they are seeking is the place of their resurrection, the resurrected self, the true self in Christ, which is for all of us our home.”

It’s a counter-intuitive idea – that you set out without destination, save that you are heading home. But here is the rub. “I shall not find Christ at the end of the journey ,” concludes de Waal, “unless he accompanied me along the way.”


* * *

action point

Take a journey today – however small – that involves you travelling somewhere different. If you have time, allow yourself truly to wander. If you don’t, you may simply like to walk a different way “home”. As you go, allow this to symbolise the inner journey you are taking this Lent. Try not to think too hard about it, but walk prayerfully, reflectively, and see what you notice about the process.

Otherwise, reflect on this poem by Sheena Pugh:

What If This Road?

What if this road, that has held no surprises
these many years, decided not to go
home after all; what if it could turn
left or right with no more ado
than a kite-tail? What if its tarry skin
were like a long, supple bolt of cloth,
that is shaken and rolled out, and takes
a new shape from the contours beneath?
And if it chose to lay itself down
in a new way; around a blind corner,
across hills you must climb without knowing
what's on the other side; who would not hanker
to be going, at all risks? Who wants to know
a story's end, or where a road will go?


* * *

rsvp

“I have always felt at home in mountains. Powerfully so. Whether it is north Wales (home of my youth) or Scotland, or the foothills of the Himalayas where I once spent an amazing few days. I think it is the grandeur, the comfort I find in feeling small, the way their solid mass puts life in perspective. And yes - the way that I sense something powerfully divine in those places. I was two-thirds up a mountain on the day of my engagement - my knee had said 'enough' and Pete was making a bid for the summit. As I wandered around a shimmering Loch and waited I had an epiphany moment - I've only ever had two. I felt so close to God, I prayed, I worshiped, I felt a deep, deep peace and an intense intimacy. Then the man that I love walked down from the summit and asked me to marry him!” Esther

“The saying tells us that ‘home is where the heart is’... My heart has been held by Jesus for many, many years now, and through many changes of living place, some of which were uncomfortable, he has remained my home; the place where I can know and be fully known.” Wendy

“I have so appreciated this journey through lent - as I reflected this morning on home, these were my thoughts:

A place of acceptance where words no longer need be measured and weighed in quite the same way,
A place of belonging, and a place of safety, protection and containment,
But also, a place of freedom, exploration and experiment.
A place where emotions can come out to play,
or lie sorrowfully.
A place where pieces that have been broken
Can be lovingly put back together again.
A place of beginning and a place of ending.
A place of journeying and exploring
A place where a kiss
really does make it better.

I realised that this home will be wherever I go, because I have been blessed with the ability to create it.” Tania

“When I saw today’s title, I almost didn't want to read it. Six months ago my husband and I emigrated to the US for his job. Home for me, at the moment, is still Britain. There are many days where I miss so much about home. But, I know that where I am now, not just geographically, but spiritually, God gets to fulfil me, sustain me and make me feel at 'home' in his presence. For all the things I yearn for back home; friends, family, good tea and good chocolate!, I know, that here is where I want to be - relying on God to be my home.” Emily

“My childhood home wasn’t a sanctuary but a place of great uncertainty and confusion. Even now I don't always feel safe in my own home, so the concept of God being home doesn't come easily. But that's the thing about God, He's bigger than all of this so when I can't find sanctuary even with Him, He knows and understands.” Kirsty

“While my house is not impressive in any way, it is a happy home full of life and from where I can see lots of sky, trees, flowers and hear bird song all day long. It is a home that doesn’t escape the wander of creation and it is also a home that shines Jesus's light. In a world where thousands of people have recently lost their homes, my contemplation this morning made me realise that the only thing I can put any value on is Jesus’ light and it will be with me wherever I go.” Kate

(The Appreciative Inquiry) “I have usually focused on what might go wrong with the day's activities on the basis that we should always be prepared for all eventualities. This thinking has often taken over. Now I shall try to put the positive first ,and remember that even filling the bird feeder is making the day for the birds of the air.” Jeremy

“My three things were: 1. Be positive when things don't go to plan. This happened quite quickly as there was a change to arrangements at work and instead of feeling cross, I felt happy that I could get on with other tasks. I made sure I extended it to others by accepting the decision happily, wokring brightly and conscientiously on the things I did do and staying positive through the day. In doing this I actually achieved so much more than I would have usually. 2. Driving by myself. (Long story but something I often don't find easy). Did this on the way to work and felt successful and happy. 3. Attacked jobs I have been putting off! Did loads, did more at home without feeling grumpy and went to bed happy. Thanks for helping with a great day. I've continued the ideas today. And I’m still humming St Patrick’s prayer, too...” Paula


* * *

May the road rise up to meet you...
Go well!

Brian