Pilgrimage

Went to mass last night and in passing the priest mentioned "THE PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE". What a powerful phrase that is. We are born, we live and we die. But if we do it right our life should be a pilgrimage. Webster's Dictionary defines "PILGRIMAGE" as a journey to a sacred place, or THE JOURNEY OF LIFE.

If life is a pilgrimage that we are all on, if we do believe in life after death and God, then it stands to reason that as we are making this journey we should be trying to prepare ourselves for our arrival at the final destination. It's like going to the opera at Carnegie Hall and wearing your very best clothes. Carnegie Hall is not some place you go wearing cut off jeans a tank top and sandals. Likewise, if you are going to the beach you pack a picnic lunch, put on your bathing suit and sun screen, bring plenty of snacks and drinks and a good book to read. We prepare for our destinations every day so how about this long term journey?

One of my cousins once said that he thought it was enough to be a good person in order to "Get to Heaven." Is it enough to just put on your bathing suit but not bring sunscreen and water when you go to the beach? Sure, you can do that but you will probably suffer some burns and possible dehydration.

I think being a pilgrim in life is a little more complicated than just arriving at our destination unprepared. I think as we journey through life we need to keep in mind just where we want to end up when the ride is over. I want to be like husband. When ever he goes anywhere his "New York" comes out and he has to push and elbow his way to the very front. I don't want to do the pushing and shoving but I do want to be front row center when the curtain goes up or comes down. I want to be that pilgrim who worked hard to get where I am going. I want to pick up lots of other pilgrims along the way and help them to find the right road. I want God to say to me, "You made it Cath. I know it wasn't easy for you but you kept trying over and over to get it right and you did good!"

When I think Pilgrimage I always associate that word with the Crusades. Talk about a tough journey. Those guys earned their spot in Heaven. But we live in this cushy world where we drive here and there with our Mocha Latte in one hand, our Blue Tooth in our ear and our IPod keeping us on schedule. When was the last time we put down the phone and listened instead to the lady standing next to us on line? When you found out she walked to the store did you offer to drive her home, even though it is out of your way? Do we thank God each and every day, as many times as we can, for all the blessings we have? Do you go to church? Church is like having a grandma that you never visit. You talk to her on the phone once in a while but wouldn't it be really nice to stop into her house for a visit? I really don't understand how we expect to get to the end of this journey and have God know us when we have never gone out of our way to get to know him.

Stop and think about the Pilgrimage we are all on and look at what you are taking on your trip with you. Maybe it's time to put down the double cappuccino with extra foam and pick up a road map. I've gotten some pretty good directions from the priests on Sundays but there are lots of ways to take this trip. Have a good ride, don't just sit back and watch the scenery go by. But when you do look at the scenery just remember who put it there.