Third Friday - Day Fifteen

Reflections on Journey
In some ways this blog entry contains the deepest reflection I've done since beginning on Ash Wednesday, yet as I read it, it seems the most sketchy and disjointed of any I've written so far. I learned a lot about journeys - both physical and metaphorical in the past two days, and a lot of what I learned came from doing the reflection - the results of which are published below. In some ways I wanted to ask myself the question, "Why do we use journey as a motif for the Lenten Season and really for a life of faith?" What is it about journeys which are compelling and instructive? Here then is what I wrote:

Here's a non- exhaustive list of the kinds of journey that came to mind:

• Adventure
• Refugee
• Expectation
• Farewell
• Familiarity
• Discovery

Adventure: I've had a few of these in my lifetime: Africa, journeys while in Africa, in Europe, in Europe as an adult, many backpacking trips and canoe trips

Refugee: only one that could loosely be defined as refugee, but only in the end. It did not start out that way.

Expectation: I think my first trip to Yellowknife could be classified in this category

Farewell: A very strong resonance in me with respect to the trip home for my Dad's funeral and some connection with this trip as I journey home from attending my Grandmother's funeral.

Familiarity: I recall the trip home on weekends from Univeristy, the trip to the cottage when we were young, and The Icefields Parkway

Discovery: north to Alaska, the Ingraham Trail, Going to the Sun Road

What did I learn from these?

Adventure is fun but also scary. Adventure is not for everyone, but God is active and alive for people on an adventure trip. On such a journey one feels more exposed and therefore you become reliant not only on yourself, but you are also more keenly aware of providence.

Refugee journeys: Reluctant, regretful, resistant journeys. A journey you don't want to make but must be done. Refugee journeyers place themselves almost completely into the hands of God.

Expectation: Journeys of the heart are often this kind of journey - the destination is important not because of what but because of who!

Farewell: These are often journeys about a journey. Some of the adjectives that come to mind are: raw, introspective.

Familiarity: The old becomes the new. Journeys of presence where the familiar changes and thus subtly creates a context. Familiarity also creates contenment and peace.

Discovery: These journeys are similar to advenutre but somehow different.

Some scriptural examples of each:

Adventure: couldn't think of one

Refugee: Abram and Sarai; the Hebrew people of out Egypt; Mary, Joseph and Jesus escaping Herod; Joseph (son of Jacob); Noah; Jonah; Jacob; Ishmael - in other words one of the most common journey motifs in scripture

Expectation: The land flowing with milk and honey; the journey of the Magi

Farewell: Jesus and Jerusalem, Mary in the Garden

Familiarity: none come to mind

Discovery: the journey of Jesus in Galilee; the journey of Abram and Sarai

What did I learn about myself and God on this journey of mine?
- people need to hear positive stories about their relationship with God
- it's all about relationship and it's important to be there
- families need storytellers to share the stories
- Family relationships can be really strong even over the distance of time, and even if there has been little contact

Once again the photo will follow...