We are in the town of Llandudno which sits on the North shore of Wales. This delightful place serves as the "threshold of our transition" as we take the experience and the work of our inner spiritual journey back to the daily routines of our lives that await us at home.
Our morning devotions were a time to share thanksgivings and the pilgrims were invited to see the journey they have been on as a walking of a labyrinth. Thinking of our travels and holy encounters as the slow meditative journey to the center where we find a union and peace with Christ. Now in the finest Benedictine spirit we delight in this center of spiritual stability and carry it with us back out of the labyrinth and into the world that awaits us.
Pilgrims were also encouraged to reflect on the experience and write Tanka, a form of Japanese poetry structure. Below you will find a fine reflection by Archdeacon Rick Cluett and check back tomorrow evening after we have arrived home for the sharing of some Tanka poetry.
Tomorrow we fly home. Join us Sunday morning at 9:15 in the dining room of Sayre Hall for a conversation with some of the pilgrims and some sharing of pictures and stories.
Turning Toward Home, written by Archdeacon Rick Cluett
As we round the last bend on this Pilgrim Road and turn our sights toward Bethlehem and home,
I am literally overcome with gratitude for this pilgrim journey. Growing in me over these last years has been an increasing awareness of God's presence in the dailyness of life and and in the daily lives of God's people. My readings in the spirituality of our early Celtic ancestors had been leading me along this path. But this, this pilgrimage of heart, body, mind and soul in the company of other faithful souls has allowed me to literally stand in the place of ancient Cistercian missionaries who brought our faith to these lands and to stand in the places of the people themselves who throughout all these centuries have known and felt and celebrated God's presence in their waking, working, praying, and resting and kept the faith alive. On this journey, we pilgrims have known God's presence leading us deeper and deeper into our place as children of God and God's place and presence in our daily lives. And to have that affirmed by all these souls over all these centuries has been a pure gift of God, as well as a gift of those we love, live and work with who said to us, Go. Yes, go, and then blessed us on our way. To them, to God, to my fellow pilgrim companions and to the dean who led us, Thank you.
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