Homeward bound!

Last Friday night, here at the Vicarage, we had a visit from our Youth

group. I say a visit it was rather more an invasion. Liz my wife leads

the group and they, that is the young people and her had decided that

this night was to be a 'Doctor Who' night.

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For those who live outside the UK and have no idea what I am now

talking about I will explain Dr Who. This is a sci fi tv show which

started in the '60s. A few years ago it was revived by the BBC.

They changed the format and the focus audience to late teens early

twenties. It was a wow. So it has been playing with hour long specials

since the revival.

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So they all troupe in for what is a thinly veiled party. They come as all

sorts of being from all over the Universe. They have little or no interest

in an aging Vicar, so I retreat to my study and more particularly my

computer. I start to surf and come across Garrison Keiller's show http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=phc/2010/01/16/phc_20100116_64&starttime=01:32:44&endtime=01:47:00

I have read one of his books and enjoyed it. To find a pod cast in these

circumstances of my siege, was a delight. Since then I have thought

about the broadcast it rather a lot. I have been impressed with the last

few words where he speaks about allowing someone to come home,

whatever they have done, because it is their home, and that is what you do. .

What a wonderful way to think of what is happening to us and what

the significance of the mission of Jesus who opened the way for us to go

home. I think that we might be able to develop this idea as a means to

understand pilgrimage a little better.

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I wonder what motivation causes us to decide to go on pilgrimage. I do

not think many folk can give any real answers as to why they go. It seems

in some sense, cool. So they go. Have you have heard a saying that

comes from seasoned pilgrims. ' You do not choose the Camino, the

Camino chooses you.' Which means that the time comes when pilgrimage

is most beneficial and at that point things come together in such

a way that results on you going. In my case I recognise that

this is true. I did not see it at the time when I first planned to go,but

the need was there. I could not see it. Only after the plans

were made did a great big abyss open at my feet and all the stuff of

the years that I had not dealt with flooded out. It was time for a life

sort out. There was no stopping it, it had to happen then. I was dragged

kicking and screaming into it. I am glad it happened as it made me

a different person in the process.

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As I look back on it all, I can see clearly that it was the call of home.

The picture at the head of the piece is called 'Homeward bound'. The girls

portrayed are not pilgrims, but they could be. I've seen a few looking just

like them on the Camino. The call home is to the place where I

belong. At the start I was unaware of this call, but it took hold of me to

bring me to the place that was home. I have not arrived there

yet, as heaven is home. I am still travelling. The pilgrim still on the

way

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Many people on pilgrimage begin as walkers and finish as pilgrims.

The soft sound of home falls on the dull ears that cannot even hear

the music of home. It is there though. And it heals the ears, the mind and

the heart. Some finish their first pilgrimage with ears healed and fully

tuned to the music of home. Others can just make out a muffled,

tiny noise, that might only be tinnitus. More healing is needed.

Whatever stage we come back from pilgrimage, we need to

allow the music of home to continue to fall on us. In this

way we become lifelong pilgrims, even if we do not

go back to Santiago again. It does help though to keep

setting aside times of Camino. Some find that it almost

becomes addictive. Tasting the joys of heaven, even if

it is distant has that way with you. It calls you back for

more. Jesus speaks of it as thirst. ''Blessed are those who

hunger and thirst for right living. They will be satisfied''.