Pilgrimage or Tour?
When I head to Israel/Palestine/Jordan (via Turkey) tonight, I’ll be surrounded by my travel mates from Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle.
Recently, when I was asked if I’m a missionary, I was stunned. That word usually has an ambitious and judgmental tone to me. The short answer is no.
I am a pilgrim. While I am curious about the place to which I travel, homeland to three of the world’s largest religions, I seek more understanding about what is internal rather than external. In the next 14 days as I post this travelogue, I bet I’ll use the word “tour” for the sake of variety. Also, the 30 of us will be led and shepherded by guides. Thank God!
For your convenience, I plan to post links to Facebook daily. Even to Instagram, if I can get advice from the more e-facile amongst us.
Know this:
I am “positively drenched in enthusiasm,
I don’t know why. And yet, why not.
I wouldn’t persuade you from whatever you believe or whatever you don’t. That’s your business.” *
I hope you travel with us. Let’s see what happens.
*From Mary Oliver’s Poetry for Spring
Always Bridging 
Fabulous! Tough news is Instagram makes it difficult to post links…at least, too difficult to consult from different places in different time zones, haha. Love you!
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Then I won’t give it a second thought. Thanks for the great info.
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