Dear Good People of Trinity,
I recently had the privilege of co-leading a pilgrimage through Ireland, Scotland, and Northern England with my dear friend and mentor, the Rev. Keith Marsh. From St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Glendalough to Ballintubber Abbey, Iona, Lindisfarne, Durham, and Whitby, we traveled across ancient landscapes and the sacred terrain of our souls.
Our wonderful guides brought to life the stories of those who walked these paths more than a thousand years before us—stories of courage and faithfulness, devastation and renewal. Through it all ran an enduring trust in the goodness of God. Patrick expressed that trust simply in his Confession: “It was in the strength of God that I went.”
Then came Heathrow.
The transition from the hallowed grounds of Whitby to the frenetic energy of an international airport was jarring. We had moved from a “thin place,” where God’s presence seemed almost tangible, into a crowded departure area filled with noise, hurry, and anxiety.
But our pilgrimage held one final sacred surprise.
During our three-hour wait, I began to recognize that Heathrow was holy ground, too. God was just as present there as on Iona or within the hallowed walls of Durham Cathedral. Around us were people carrying their own hopes, griefs, fears, and longings. Each had a story. Each was on a journey. Each was beloved of God.
There is something blessed in our wilderness, something sacred in our confusion, something holy in our longings.
John O’Donohue writes in For the Traveler, “A journey can become a sacred thing.” Later, he offers this blessing: “May you travel in an awakened way.” Those words capture something I hope to carry home: a greater willingness to notice the sacred in the ordinary.
Whether walking St. Cuthbert’s Way, going to work, shopping for groceries, or waiting in an airport - we walk on holy ground. The invitation is to open our eyes and hearts to the God who is already there.
Forward in faith, dear ones. Be good to one another as we continue the sacred journey of our everyday lives.
Peace and Blessings,
Paul+