“Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage” (Psalm 119:54)

“April showers bring May flowers.” You have probably heard this expression, and perhaps many times if you are of an age approximating mine. It is from a short poem written in 1557 by a gentleman named Thomas Tusser. And you have probably heard the pun based on the saying: “If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring?” The answer, of course, is: Pilgrims. (Mayflower ... the boat that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth …).

Okay, it’s a groaner, but recalling it recently got me to thinking that a column in the month of May about pilgrims may bring another aspect to our understanding of how healing and wellness is part of our journey as children of God. The scripture above from Psalm 119 is an interesting one. In his commentary on this particular verse, Matthew Henry says that it is about the journey of King David, and that “the house of pilgrimage” could refer to David’s lot as it is in common to us all. Henry writes in his commentary, “This world is the house of our pilgrimage, the house in which we are pilgrims; it is our tabernacle; it is our inn. We must confess ourselves strangers and pilgrims upon Earth …”

So, how does one go about being a pilgrim, and what does it have to do with enhancing our wellness? To ease your mind at the start here, it does not mean you have to wear those silly hats and bonnets we are familiar with from reenactments of the landing on Plymouth Rock. Unless you like silly headdress -- I am not one to judge.

The Catholic Encyclopedia defines pilgrimage as "a journey made to some place with the purpose of venerating it, or in order to ask there for supernatural aid, or to discharge some … obligation." The Encyclopedia then goes on to explain that a classic pilgrimage is seen as an exercise in purification or penitence. A pilgrimage is done in an attempt to lighten one's load, so to speak. So the concepts of honoring and unburdening appear to be central in understanding the method and use of pilgrimage.

As people we are pretty good at taking on burdens, aren't we? Most of us can confess to harboring guilt, animosity, envy, and at some point we all have experienced the heavy heart that comes along with storing them for too long. And not just thoughts and feelings that are classified as sins weigh us down. Sometimes it is grief, a sense of loss, or just a yearning for the way things used to be that constitute our personal burden.

Folks figured out quite a while ago that pilgrimage is a tool that can help one heal, alleviating some of the heavy load. Pilgrimage can produce a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of paying a debt, or just a feeling of gratification that one has moved with purpose. If you are the adventurous type, physically able, and have the opportunity to travel there are many incredible pilgrimage sites around the world, such as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela featured in the film, The Way.

But you can also make a spiritual pilgrimage much closer to home. I have walked the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross in San Luis, Colorado, a remarkably powerful walk of only one mile. And you can certainly create your own pilgrimage. And you can find healing even in an inner pilgrimage, and there are guides who can help you with your journey, either professionals or a trusted and understanding fellow traveler. And recall the Psalm, which reminds us that the whole journey of life is a shared pilgrimage. Look around you and you’ll realize you are not alone in the journey that seeks healing. There are a lot of people making the pilgrimage with you.

– Peace and health, Pilgrim. Jack Lindsey.