May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May you be held in the palm of God’s hand.
Old Irish Blessing
Secondly, the pilgrim leaves home, saying goodbye to loved ones and to the familiar, to travel to the unfamiliar, the unknown. This is never easy since we fear the unknown and tend to surround ourselves with all sorts of things that tell us that we are not really far from home. Yet this journey into the unknown can be the very cause of our placing our trust in God. (Hays, Edward, Pray All Ways, 2007 p. 74)
Word of God: Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14: 1
Reflection: What or who do I need to say goodbye to in order to live a pilgrim’s journey?
