My early morning walk this Good Friday brought me in the
company of a multitude of pilgrims who walked the stations of the cross, a
religious tradition, in this predominantly Catholic country. As a non- catholic
Christian I understand the spiritual
significance of this practice as an opportunity for prayer, and meditation following
the path of Christ’s passion, reflecting on the suffering and death of our Lord
on the cross.
I have been a practitioner of prayer walking for years,
albeit, on and off, and I felt I was in good company this morning.
The thought came to mind, that we are all pilgrims on this
earth, traveling, walking, to our dwelling place. But there are others who seem
to walk aimlessly not knowing where. As our earthly bodies often take shelter
in the dwelling place we call our homes, our inward life, our souls, need to
find rest in a dwelling place, far greater than the comfort, joy and peace
which our earthly homes could provide. The Lord declares that He has been our
dwelling place in all generations(Psalm 90:1).
Maybe some of us are
wandering aimlessly, in the spiritual
desert of dryness and hunger. Our souls faint, longing for a place of comfort
and rest. And yet perhaps we haven’t realized that all the while God is our dwelling place. With outstretched arms He calls “Come home to me and find rest
for your soul. “ He is our refuge, our
fortress, our high tower.
But some refuse to come. God through the prophet Isaiah said,
“All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their
own evil paths and their own crooked schemes.” (Isaiah 65:2)
We pilgrims need to
come home and take residence in Him. He has been our dwelling place.
God only is the creature’s home;
Though rough and straight the road,
Yet nothing else can satisfy
The soul that long’s for God.
God Bless you my friends.
