1 00:00:02,710 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Most of us are moving quickly through our lives, 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: but very few of us are actually paying attention to 3 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: the journey we're on. We fill our days and we 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,939 Speaker 1: keep moving, and somewhere underneath it all, there's a quiet 5 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,650 Speaker 1: longing to feel more present, more connected, and more awake 6 00:00:20,690 --> 00:00:23,689 Speaker 1: to God. But what if your life isn't just a 7 00:00:23,770 --> 00:00:27,430 Speaker 1: series of tasks to manage, but a pilgrimage to walk, 8 00:00:28,230 --> 00:00:31,660 Speaker 1: right here in the middle of your ordinary days? Hi, friends. 9 00:00:31,820 --> 00:00:34,700 Speaker 1: I'm Jem Fadling, and this is the Unhurried Living Podcast, 10 00:00:35,060 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: where we inspire you to rest deeper, live fuller, and 11 00:00:38,340 --> 00:00:41,110 Speaker 1: lead better. Today, I want to invite you into a 12 00:00:41,150 --> 00:00:44,290 Speaker 1: different way of living, a more aware and a more 13 00:00:44,330 --> 00:00:48,090 Speaker 1: attentive way of walking with God. After a word from 14 00:00:48,150 --> 00:01:00,230 Speaker 1: our sponsor, we'll dive into our conversation for today. People 15 00:01:00,270 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: have been going on pilgrimage for centuries. And while it 16 00:01:03,300 --> 00:01:06,190 Speaker 1: is a physical journey, it's also an inward exploration of 17 00:01:06,230 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: the soul. Pilgrimage is a chance to connect with your 18 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,339 Speaker 1: inner life, your most deeply held beliefs, and your relationship 19 00:01:13,380 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: with God in a focused and intentional way. I'm so 20 00:01:16,819 --> 00:01:20,459 Speaker 1: grateful for the gift of having facilitated four Italy pilgrimages 21 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:25,260 Speaker 1: for women alongside my friend, Mary. Providing sacred hospitality for 22 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: women in such a beautiful country is a treasured experience. 23 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:31,590 Speaker 1: Today I'd like to talk about how we might engage 24 00:01:31,670 --> 00:01:35,010 Speaker 1: a spirit of pilgrimage in our everyday lives. I don't 25 00:01:35,030 --> 00:01:36,650 Speaker 1: think it's a big stretch to say that we have 26 00:01:36,690 --> 00:01:39,330 Speaker 1: a brief journey here on earth and that, in a way, 27 00:01:39,770 --> 00:01:43,810 Speaker 1: we are all on a pilgrimage. The American Heritage Dictionary 28 00:01:43,850 --> 00:01:48,090 Speaker 1: defines pilgrimage as a long journey or search, especially one 29 00:01:48,130 --> 00:01:53,550 Speaker 1: of exalted purpose or moral significance. Well, this definition is 30 00:01:53,610 --> 00:01:56,350 Speaker 1: a wonderful theme for living a life. So let's look 31 00:01:56,430 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: at a process for taking part in this way. This 32 00:02:00,140 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: process can be used if you have intentionally set aside 33 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:06,100 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks or months, but it can also 34 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,340 Speaker 1: be used as a way of engaging your everyday life. 35 00:02:10,180 --> 00:02:15,710 Speaker 1: So first, set an intention. In this busy and distracted world, 36 00:02:15,810 --> 00:02:19,670 Speaker 1: intentionality can easily fall by the wayside. But it's important 37 00:02:19,710 --> 00:02:22,990 Speaker 1: to give yourself some time in prayer to find an intention. 38 00:02:23,810 --> 00:02:27,010 Speaker 1: Intention and desire go hand in hand. You might begin 39 00:02:27,030 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: by asking, what do I want? Or, What am I 40 00:02:30,220 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: hoping for? As you linger and ponder those questions, an 41 00:02:34,060 --> 00:02:38,940 Speaker 1: intention might arise. For example, when pondering your desires and hopes, 42 00:02:39,340 --> 00:02:43,170 Speaker 1: you might realize you really miss engaging beauty. So an 43 00:02:43,230 --> 00:02:46,750 Speaker 1: intention might be, as I enter this journey, I'll allow 44 00:02:46,810 --> 00:02:49,010 Speaker 1: my eyes to see in my heart to take in 45 00:02:49,050 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: the beauty around me. Life can be busy, and we 46 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,139 Speaker 1: sometimes move at a pace that doesn't allow for taking 47 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,500 Speaker 1: in the beauty around us. Pilgrimage is a time of slowing, 48 00:02:59,990 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: usually to walking speed. Engaging beauty at this slower pace 49 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: is a welcome invitation. Next, engage some self-reflection. Now at 50 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,490 Speaker 1: face value, the term self-reflection can sound selfish or self-centered, 51 00:03:16,050 --> 00:03:19,830 Speaker 1: but one could argue that self-reflection is a pathway to love. 52 00:03:20,610 --> 00:03:23,049 Speaker 1: The greatest commandment itself says to love the Lord our 53 00:03:23,090 --> 00:03:26,460 Speaker 1: God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 54 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,370 Speaker 1: to love our neighbor as ourselves. as ourselves, might be 55 00:03:31,410 --> 00:03:35,250 Speaker 1: a big missing piece in how we engage this beautiful invitation. 56 00:03:36,070 --> 00:03:38,170 Speaker 1: How will we love others if we do not know 57 00:03:38,250 --> 00:03:41,530 Speaker 1: how to love ourselves? I understand that most of us 58 00:03:41,570 --> 00:03:45,210 Speaker 1: have mountains of past experiences that make this difficult, but 59 00:03:45,230 --> 00:03:47,630 Speaker 1: I'm encouraging you to engage this part of your story. 60 00:03:48,110 --> 00:03:51,690 Speaker 1: Do the work necessary to become unencumbered by past hurt. 61 00:03:52,370 --> 00:03:54,530 Speaker 1: Open yourself more fully to the love of God as 62 00:03:54,570 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: you're able to God's love for us helps us love ourselves, 63 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: and as this relationship continues to be refined, our love 64 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:08,670 Speaker 1: for others increases and can become purer. Self-reflection is therefore 65 00:04:08,930 --> 00:04:13,850 Speaker 1: important and necessary soul work. Pilgrimage is the perfect opportunity 66 00:04:13,890 --> 00:04:16,830 Speaker 1: to engage in self-reflection because you've already made the choice 67 00:04:16,860 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: to set aside time and place and focus. There will 68 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: be hours to let your mind wander and allow the 69 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:26,190 Speaker 1: spirit to bring some inner dynamics— And this can happen 70 00:04:26,270 --> 00:04:29,650 Speaker 1: naturally when you're moving at a walking pace and when 71 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,820 Speaker 1: you have an open heart that's ready to receive. And 72 00:04:32,860 --> 00:04:39,740 Speaker 1: you can have this posture day by day. Next, become open, aware, 73 00:04:40,180 --> 00:04:42,980 Speaker 1: and willing. In our book, What Is Your Soul Love?, 74 00:04:42,980 --> 00:04:47,730 Speaker 1: I talk about the posture of transformation, which is open, aware, 75 00:04:48,150 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: and willing. And being those three is a beautiful way 76 00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 1: to make your way, and it's especially effective when going 77 00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:59,010 Speaker 1: on a pilgrimage. So check in with yourself. Are you 78 00:04:59,150 --> 00:05:03,270 Speaker 1: open in body, mind, and soul for whatever invitations God 79 00:05:03,310 --> 00:05:07,710 Speaker 1: might bring today? Do you choose to become more aware 80 00:05:07,810 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: and to notice what is going on around and within you? 81 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,380 Speaker 1: And are you willing to engage that which rises to 82 00:05:15,420 --> 00:05:19,750 Speaker 1: the surface? open, aware, and willing is a wonderful posture 83 00:05:19,790 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: to engage on pilgrimage and in your everyday life. Next, 84 00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: let's talk about deepening your faith. Pilgrimage can be a 85 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,380 Speaker 1: time that deepens your relationship with God. This almost goes 86 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,140 Speaker 1: without saying, but I'm going to say it anyway, because 87 00:05:35,220 --> 00:05:38,410 Speaker 1: this is a focused time of remembering God is with 88 00:05:38,670 --> 00:05:42,510 Speaker 1: us and within us. Time and space have been set 89 00:05:42,550 --> 00:05:46,089 Speaker 1: aside for this very purpose. No one's making any promises 90 00:05:46,150 --> 00:05:48,590 Speaker 1: about what will or will not occur or how many 91 00:05:48,710 --> 00:05:52,339 Speaker 1: messages you will or won't receive. It's not about that anyway. 92 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: It's just pure and simple devotion. It's saying, here I am, Lord. 93 00:05:57,980 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: I give you myself and I receive you as you 94 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,100 Speaker 1: offer yourself to me. And then we open our hands 95 00:06:04,580 --> 00:06:07,020 Speaker 1: and we let go. We don't control or manage what 96 00:06:07,060 --> 00:06:11,070 Speaker 1: God does or does not do. There is such beauty, grace, 97 00:06:11,130 --> 00:06:14,310 Speaker 1: and peace in opening ourselves and walking with a listening heart. 98 00:06:15,460 --> 00:06:18,030 Speaker 1: even this act in and of itself can grow our 99 00:06:18,110 --> 00:06:24,690 Speaker 1: soul and our faith. Next, cultivate presence. Oh, presence, yes. 100 00:06:25,270 --> 00:06:28,010 Speaker 1: It's an invitation that constantly gets beaten out of us 101 00:06:28,089 --> 00:06:31,010 Speaker 1: by our driven culture. How many times have you heard 102 00:06:31,050 --> 00:06:33,650 Speaker 1: me talk about how grace is found only in the moment, 103 00:06:34,110 --> 00:06:37,830 Speaker 1: and yet it's quite a challenge to be present in body, mind, heart, 104 00:06:38,190 --> 00:06:42,250 Speaker 1: and soul. Practicing presence is a central invitation because it 105 00:06:42,310 --> 00:06:46,609 Speaker 1: bears fruit in our relationship with God, others, and our work. 106 00:06:47,550 --> 00:06:51,380 Speaker 1: A pilgrimage, whether a long journey in another country or 107 00:06:51,460 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: just day by day, gives you a chance to practice presence. 108 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,979 Speaker 1: At a walking pace, you're taking in what's happening, and 109 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:04,620 Speaker 1: as you set aside time for worship or prayer or journaling, pondering, 110 00:07:05,310 --> 00:07:10,230 Speaker 1: presence has a chance to flourish. Well, let's summarize here. 111 00:07:10,590 --> 00:07:14,150 Speaker 1: I hope you'll accept this invitation to embrace pilgrimage as 112 00:07:14,190 --> 00:07:16,430 Speaker 1: a way of life. And I do pray that something 113 00:07:16,450 --> 00:07:19,370 Speaker 1: I've shared has lit a small fire somewhere inside of you. 114 00:07:20,030 --> 00:07:24,470 Speaker 1: We've talked about engaging a life with intentionality, making time 115 00:07:24,570 --> 00:07:28,770 Speaker 1: for self-reflection that leads to love, becoming more open, aware, 116 00:07:28,970 --> 00:07:32,870 Speaker 1: and willing, deepening your faith by receiving what God is 117 00:07:33,010 --> 00:07:38,710 Speaker 1: actually giving, and cultivating presence in your everyday life. A 118 00:07:38,830 --> 00:07:41,690 Speaker 1: while back, a friend sent me the following prayer for 119 00:07:41,770 --> 00:07:46,150 Speaker 1: pilgrims written by Murray Bodo. It says this, I am 120 00:07:46,190 --> 00:07:49,420 Speaker 1: not in control. I am not in a hurry. I 121 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,220 Speaker 1: walk in faith and hope. I greet everyone with peace. 122 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: I bring back only what God gives me. What a 123 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,300 Speaker 1: perfect stance when engaging a pilgrimage and even in greater 124 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:07,980 Speaker 1: posture for living a life. So, my final invitation to 125 00:08:08,020 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: you is this. Why don't you try on this prayer 126 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: for pilgrims this week? Maybe every morning. Say it aloud. 127 00:08:14,340 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: and let it penetrate your heart and become your intention 128 00:08:16,900 --> 00:08:20,250 Speaker 1: for the day. I'll repeat it again for you. I'm 129 00:08:20,290 --> 00:08:24,110 Speaker 1: not in control. I'm not in a hurry. I walk 130 00:08:24,210 --> 00:08:29,230 Speaker 1: in faith and hope. I greet everyone with peace. I 131 00:08:29,270 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: bring back only what God gives me. May this prayer 132 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,260 Speaker 1: become a way of life for you. Blessings to you 133 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,940 Speaker 1: as you make your way. Thank you for joining me 134 00:08:40,020 --> 00:08:43,239 Speaker 1: on the Unhurried Living Podcast. You can download free resources 135 00:08:43,300 --> 00:08:47,170 Speaker 1: and learn more about us at unhurriedliving.com. And please subscribe 136 00:08:47,210 --> 00:08:50,350 Speaker 1: and share this podcast with your friends and colleagues. We'd 137 00:08:50,370 --> 00:08:52,890 Speaker 1: also like to thank our partner, Life Audio. Check out 138 00:08:52,910 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: their other faith-centered podcasts at lifeaudio.com. Blessings to you as 139 00:08:57,340 --> 00:08:58,020 Speaker 1: you make your way.