The Quiet way of Pilgrimage – Preparation
Today, and throughout May, I want to expand on the monthly email I sent on the theme of pilgrimage.
There’s something wonderfully exciting about preparing for pilgrimage. Even before a single step is taken, something begins to shift—not just in the body, but in the soul. The careful choosing of clothes, the unhurried reading of maps, the mindful gathering of just enough—it all becomes part of the journey. Pilgrimage starts long before the path meets your feet.
Unlike a typical trip, pilgrimage is not about efficiency or control. It’s not about ticking off sites or getting to the end quickly. It’s about making your way—slowly, intentionally—toward a place that holds deep spiritual meaning. A thin place. A destination that draws you, not just with history or beauty, but with the promise of something holy.
Abraham offers us an image of this kind of journeying. Though his destination was not initially clear, his obedience and attentiveness to God’s call prepared him for each step. He moved not in haste, but in trust—and his steps created space for encounter. In a different way, we too can walk in trust—not because the road is mysterious, but because the journey changes us on the way to what we already know is sacred.
Pilgrimage simplifies us. It brings us back to the basics: walking, praying, resting, sharing. It reminds us of how little we actually need and how deeply we long for presence—God’s, and one another’s.
In preparing to walk toward a sacred place—be it the Camino, Iona, Holy Island, or even a local abbey—we are also preparing our hearts to receive. It’s less about what we pack and more about what we choose to lay down: hurry, distraction, the weight of unspoken worries. There’s a quiet invitation here, to strip back life to its essence and find God not only at the destination, but in the slow, steady steps that lead us there.
If you find yourself longing for something more grounded, more spacious—perhaps it’s time to begin. Maybe this season is a gentle call to prepare—not just practically, but prayerfully. What might you release, so you can travel more lightly? What rhythm of rest or prayer might you begin now, so your journey is already rooted in grace?
Pilgrimage doesn’t have to be dramatic or far away. It begins in the heart. With a pause, a breath, a moment of intention. Whether you’re planning a trip to a sacred site or simply craving a deeper rhythm of walking with God in the everyday, let this be your invitation.
Take time this week to walk a little slower. Listen more closely. Let your steps become prayers.
