Journeying with the Spirit

 

In less than twenty-four hours, Carly and I will be boarding our plane that will take us to Porto, Portugal where we will begin our walk along the El Camino. As I prepare my body, mind and spirit to begin our journey to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, I am thinking of beginnings. "In the beginning..." Everything has a beginning. The book of Genesis begins one of the many Creation stories that have circulated through the eons from every culture and people that explain how earth and life began. For every good thing we experience there is always a beginning. 

As I anticipate our journey along the El Camino, my spirit's eye sees a misty forest that reveals a path that will lead us to unexpected surprises. As we begin this journey, we begin a journey with the Spirit. For me, Spirit God will show us a path that we will follow, but we cannot know the fullness of each moment without stepping into the unknown, the mist of time. One of my guiding scriptures comes from Hebrews where it is written,  "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. It is with this promise that we take our first step into the mystic. Where the path will lead us remains to be seen and along the way there will be 'things hoped for' and there will be 'unexpected surprises' that will remind us of the promise that Jesus leaves with his disciples, "...And remember, I am with you always..." 

For us it will be an adventure. Helen Keller writes, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." Yes, I will walk the path and enter into the mist. There will be moments of confusion and moments of clarity. There will be quiet moments and times when a symphony of God's Creation will awaken my spirit, inviting me in to the joy of the moment. There will be times when each step feels like a struggle and other times when I feel as though I am walking on air. It will be an adventure -- the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things yet to be revealed. Regardless the experience, we journey with the Spirit. 

As we leave behind the mountains and rainforests of Costa Rica, one journey ends and another begins. Soon, we'll take our first step into a mystical journey that will end at the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela, an ancient cathedral, consecrated in 1211A.D.,  and is among the  oldest congregations that is still holding weekly worship and is a place where many spiritual journeys find beginnings, endings, wholeness, beauty, and joy. Lead Holy Spirit and let the journey begin.