Oh, the places we will go!

The shell is an ancient symbol of pilgrims

pil·grim·age n.

1. A journey to a sacred place or shrine.

2. A long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance.

One of the over-arching themes that comes to us from the scriptures is that of pilgrimage or journey.  Pilgrimages in the scriptures can take many forms.  They might call for a physical journey (such as Sarah and Abraham); they can call for a change of vocation (such as Amos the prophet); some call for a journey of discovery (such as Paul’s conversion journey). 

Some pilgrimages are measured in time.  The journey of the Israelites from slavery to the Promised Land took forty years.  Jesus’ journey to his ministry took forty days.

Many pilgrimages or journeys are taken by individuals, while others involve groups.  We know of Moses and the Israelites, of Jonah, and of Noah and his family.  We know that some pilgrimages are undertaken willingly while others are reluctant experiences.

There are so many other examples, we may even have a sermon series about this some time!

My point here is that each of us are on a pilgrimage of faith.  Whether we are cradle United Methodists or are new to the Christian faith, our God is a dynamic, ever-creating God whose very nature calls us to share this life-long journey with God and with each other.

It has taken Belinda and me a long time to get to the Bitterroot Valley and the Stevensville UMC.  To paraphrase “We’re not from Montana but we got here as fast as we could!”  Our faith journey has taken a long and winding path, along the way, we’ve both learned much about ourselves and about our God.  And we’re not done yet.

I am excited to be afforded this opportunity to walk with everyone connected with the Stevi UMC, growing in faith and in love for the world God loves so much.  I am so looking forward to hearing about your journey of faith, where it has taken you, what you have learned along the way. 

Together, we are going places where God is already at work.  Together, we will learn about ourselves and about each other.  Together, we will be blessed and be a blessing. 

To paraphrase the words of Dr. Seuss:  “Oh, the places we will go!”

Every blessing,

Pastor Charles