It’s that feeling of taking control over one’s life that most affected the pilgrims I met. So much of religion as it’s been practiced for centuries has been largely passive. People receive a faith from their parents; they are herded into institutions they have no role in choosing; they spend much of their spiritual lives sitting inactively in buildings being lectured at from on high. A pilgrimage reverses all of that. At its core, it’s a gesture of action. In a world in which more and more things are artificial and ephemeral, a sacred journey gives the pilgrim the chance to experience something both physical and real. And it provides seekers with an opportunity they may never have had: to confront their doubts and decide for themselves what they really believe. As appealing as that destination may be, there’s only one way to achieve it. Get up off your sofa and go. Check out the PBS special featuring the Jesus Trail Dec 23 at 8pm EST!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:33:00 +0000
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