March
Pilgrimage
Hiking shoes on and walking stick in hand we headed off into the stark landscape of March, not to resume a military campaign after the winter as they would have done in earlier times. Although it felt somewhat like this – a bit of a forceful march looking at all the activities during this month – speaking, training, counselling, praying, planning, meetings plus the normal tending to the ‘Du Plessis farm yard’.
Hard stops occurred when migraines hit, the car needed a pair of new ‘shoes’ and Kirsty loudly refused pressure and whatever else. The deep wells of silence (morning ritual of prayer) gave courage to continue this pilgrimage.
The march turned into a journey spotting sprouting seed and trees along the way, promises of green, evidence of new life – hope!
As Kirsty lodged with her dear friends, Wim enjoyed the house all to himself and I took a side road to a Catholic community to be immersed into early morning devotions, spiritual food after meals, doing dishes, discovering warm eggs in the chicken pen, walking, painting a prayer and having conversations around the table. Truly enriching to see through the eyes of other pilgrims.
And so, we continue this joyful journey to a hill called Skull (Golgotha), still discovering the full impact of what happened there… I’m so glad we are not the only pilgrims.
