Pilgrimages
Sacred Places Journal
Sep 17 Departure
Sep 19 London
Sep 20 London
Sep 21 London
Sep 23 London
Sep 24 Isle of Lewis
Sep 25 Isle of Lewis
Sep 27 Iona
Sep 28 Iona
Sep 29 Iona
Sep 30 Iona
Oct 1 Iona
Oct 2 Wigtown/Whithorn
Oct 3 Whithorn
Oct 5 Jarrow
Oct 6 Durham
Oct 7 Durham
Oct 8 Lindisfarne
Oct 9 Lindisfarne
Oct 10 Whitby
Oct 11 Whitby
Oct 12 Durham
Oct 13 Canterbury
Oct 14 Canterbury
Oct 15 Glastonbury
Oct 16 Glastonbury
Oct 17 Glastonbury
Oct 18 Swansea, Wales
Oct 19 Rhondda Valley
Oct 20 St. David's
Oct 21 St. David's
Oct 24 Wormingford
Oct 28 Home
19 September 2001
London. A London of gray skies and Union Jacks at half mast.
My pilgrimage begins in silence. The silence of a contemplative prayer group at St. Mary's parish church, Balham, in south London. Surrounded by mural scenes from the life of Christ, we sit around flickering candles. "Silence is the most resounding word," the sign says.
Silent, still, sitting open to God for half an hour. "The world has changed since last we met," the leader says. "And we have seen repeatedly this week the power of silence to say what no words can express. As Christ was silent before his accusers, so silence can stand against the evil of our day."
Another thirty minutes. We complete the hour of silence. An hour of openness before God to make us channels for his grace to flow into all the world. Has there ever been a time when the world was more in need of his grace? Perhaps not. But there have been many, many times when the need was as great. And his grace was always been sufficient. It is just some of these times I shall be seeking out on my journey.
We gather around the teapot and talk of the strength of silence and of community. "Silence is the most resounding word."
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