At the beginning of a pilgrimage, I’m often open to what I encounter. But then fear creeps in, uncertainty becomes uncomfortable, and I look for something to hold onto and forget about that deeper story to which God may be calling. In a desire to control, I let go of the Spirit in the service of safety and efficiency.

Pilgrimage, a practice that is enmeshed in transition, has something to teach us during this season. No, it’s likely we won’t be going any place physical in the coming weeks. But we are on a journey toward a new awareness of life and society. In this reality, we can choose to set our hearts on pilgrimage as the psalmist does and move from a place of transition to transformation.