Pilgrim or Tourist?

One of the books I read recently (Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron–Book Review) posed this question: when you consider your spiritual life, are you a pilgrim or a tourist? In case you’re asking yourself what’s the difference?, here are some of my thoughts.

A pilgrim is on a sacred journey; a tourist is just looking for a way to pass the time pleasantly.

A pilgrim doesn’t rush but takes time to consider how God may be speaking to him or her. A tourist tries to pack in as many activities as possible and is often distracted.

A pilgrim travels lightly. A tourist accumulates lots of souvenirs

A pilgrim does his or her own research. A tourist is content to adopt the opinions of the tour guide.

A pilgrim learns from the journey, and changes. A tourist goes back to the same way of behaving.

A pilgrim chooses activities that lead to growth. A tourist makes decisions based on what is fun and easy.

A pilgrim persists when the going gets tough. A tourist gives up and leaves.

A pilgrim strikes up relationships with other pilgrims along the way. A tourist stays with the tour group.

Do you get the idea? You can take your spiritual life seriously, pay attention, and be transformed. Or you can settle for Christian entertainment and remain a practical pagan. Which will it be? Are you a pilgrim or a tourist?

For more on spiritual growth see these posts:

Spiritual Formation by Henri Nouwen–Book Review

Are You a Spiritual Person?

Let Your Spiritual Gifts S–T–R–E–T–C–H You

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Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron–Book Review

Pastor Chase Falson, leader of a large, evangelical church, finds his faith floundering after the death of a young child in his congregation. Suddenly he doesn’t have all the answers — or any answers–and God seems far away. He shares his feelings in a sermon, and is promptly asked by the church elders to “take a break” so that he and they can reassess his ministry.

Chase’s Uncle, a Franciscan priest, convinces him to come to Italy, going on a kind of pilgrimage to the places that were important in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He gives him a reading list of books about the saint as well. Chase is highly suspicious at first — for one thing, as a Catholic his theology is all wrong, and wasn’t he also a little crazy? Messages from God, giving up everything? It’s far from the logical, reasoned faith that Chase espouses and teaches.

I won’t publish any “spoilers” except to say that Chase recovers his faith, but he has changed and learned many lessons from Francis, who was willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world for the sake of Christ.

The author describes his book as “a genre called wisdom literature, which is a delicate balance of fiction and nonfiction, pilgrimage and teaching.” It’s an easy, engaging read, and I actually thought it was a memoir at first! Since there was so much historical and theological detail that could not be included in the story, Cron has provided a study guide at the end of the book. This could be done alone or with a group.

VERDICT: 5 STARS. I loved it!

For more on pilgrimages see:

And Then There are Pilgrimages …

..And Speaking of Retreats …..

And Then There are Pilgrimages …..

Writing about retreats reminded me of another way to “rest with God.”  A pilgrimage. Have you thought of yourself as a pilgrim?  Well it’s a common idea in Christianity and other religions as well.

A pilgrim  is a traveler  who is on journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey or pilgrimage (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religion. In the spiritual literature of Christianity, the concept of pilgrim and pilgrimage may refer to the experience of physical life (considered as a period of exile) or to the inner path of the pilgrim  from a state of wretchedness to a state of beatitude.

Pilgrimages were common in the middle ages.  Remember The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer? (well if you’re an English major you do).  These pilgrims were bound for Canterbury to the Shrine of Thomas a Becket, a Christian martyr.  Today a famous pilgrimage site is the Camino de Santiago in Spain, where thousands of pilgrims each year walk to the Shrine of St. James.

Pilgrimages, like retreats, offer a break or rest from day to day life.  Often they are made with traveling companions who, like Chaucer’s pilgrims, share stories and testimonies.  Just spending time walking is a way of slowing down and relaxing.  Taking the time to listen to those we’ve never met is rare in everyday life.

You don’t have to travel to Spain or England to make a pilgrimage, and you don’t have to go with a large group.  If you are on vacation, or even in your home town, study the area and select a church or another place with religious experience.  Go to visit, walk around.  Speak with others who are there, or tour guides who know about the location.  When my husband and I went to visit friends in South Carolina, they took us to one of the oldest churches in that area.  The church was open, and we spoke with some current members who were there as hosts.  We learned about its’ history.  It was a sort of pilgrimage.

Another way to go on a pilgrimage is to walk a labyrinth.  While some think this is a new age fad, it is actually an ancient Christian tradition.  The most famous is in the Cathedral of Chartres in France.  Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has one winding path that takes you to the center and then back out again.  It was considered a substitute for those who could not make an actual pilgrimage.  Walking a labyrinth is calming and meditative.  I have done this a number of times and would recommend it as an occasional spiritual exercise.  See if there’s one in your area.  The last one I walked was in Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina.  Sometimes churches will have these, as well.

My point is — get creative with rest!  You can go on retreat, walk a labyrinth, take a pilgrimage.  You can create your own spiritual adventure.  Rest takes many forms, so try new things and find what works for you.  Just make sure your rest is the kind that renews you spiritually as well as physically.

God loves you and so do I!