During the school holidays I read The Making of Us by Sheridan Voysey. In this book, Sheridan and his friend, DJ walk a pilgrimage following in the footsteps of the seventh-century monk, Cuthbert. In doing so they walk from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to Durham.
On the way they reflect on their lives up until that point: the challenges, the victories, the confusion and the ‘so what now?’
Their discussions recorded in the book reminded me that sometimes the Christian life skips easily through the week with minimal troubles. Yet at other times, the Christian journey is very much in winter, much like Australia right now. In these times I think it is best to remind ourselves of those who have gone before us and lived through the pilgrimage already.
We see the big picture of their lives now, but they too, like Sheridan and DJ would have experienced many times of confusion and uncertainty.
Take one of my favourite heroes of the faith: William Wilberforce.
It was the year 1787 on October 28th (which just happens to be my birthday) when William Wilberforce wrote in his journal his famous calling: “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.”
That was a moment of clarity, given by God.
Yet Wilberforce had many other moments in his journey towards the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade that were not so clear. He was also ill with a disease that no one really seemed to understand. It’s possible also that he had an opium addiction due to the medicinal methods of the day.
Yet Wilberforce’s calling remained and under God he achieved it.
Or consider the great hymn writer, Fanny Crosby.
Confirmed at age five that she had incurable blindness; she would have known much suffering. Yet despite the difficulties of her pilgrimage she still managed to compose more than nine thousand hymns across her 94 years. Fanny, the poet, wrote the words and her husband, Alexander van Alstyne wrote the music for a large number of her hymns.
After writing her first hymn, Fanny set herself the goal of bringing one million people to faith in God through her hymns.
She knew that under God, the setback of blindness was no obstacle.
I’m sure it wasn’t an easy pilgrimage but it was one that bore much fruit.
Towards the end of The Making of Us, Sheridan writes a New Creed as a summative reflection on all he learnt whilst he walked the distance from Lindisfarne to Durham.
Both he and DJ had times when the journey was not such fun. There is much talk of blisters in the book. Still their resolve was firm, as he writes in the conclusion of his creed:
And so I will walk on.
I will step to a rhythm of mission and retreat.
Each day, each week, each season.
I will aim for great things but leave my legacy to God.
Knowing grace covers my failures.
I am one brief flash on the timeline of history.
Just one note in the great symphony.
Still:
I will not wish for another’s life.
I will take my place.
Play my part.
Something important will be missed if I don’t.
For the hand that spins the galaxies wants me here.
Yours on the pilgrim way,
Alison
