Last weekend I went on a pilgrimage to a destination very different to the MCG. I hadn’t intended to be quite so countercultural as to clash with the Grand Final – it was just that in my planning I didn’t realise the AFL had changed dates.
Eleven of us spent 4 hours walking from a little bluestone chapel beside the Tullaroop Reservoir near Carisbrook down through the valley beside the Tullaroop creek and up onto Bald Hill for a 360 degree view of the area. The canola crops were a brilliant yellow. The grass was vibrant green and spindly young red gum seedlings indicated where new life was emerging after the January floodwaters. We were conscious of the wind as a symbol of the Spirit’s lively presence. We stopped at various points for times of prayer and reflection. We carried with us a beautiful icon by Rev Dr Rob Gallacher of Jesus meeting the woman at the well. The traditional style incorporated Uluru and a ghost gum, and we pondered the meaning of the shadowy image of the MCG in the cloud! The simple action of carrying the icon with us turned a walk into a journey of reflection. From a 7 year old to one in their seventh decade we all shared the journey, the reflection, the silence and the space.
Next day, back on top of Bald Hill, I watched the sun rise and infuse the whole area with golden light. Thistles have never seemed so beautiful – a lesson that there is more than one way of viewing situations. We spent time with Uncle Brien Nelson, Jaara Elder as he guided us to see signs of the presence of Jaara people along the creek, and we held tools dating back 40 or 60,000 years.
As we concluded our time sharing Holy Communion I suddenly realised we were sitting beside a well of living water, the water for the house. I will treasure the image of the icon placed on the cover of the well, bread and wine in front of it, signs of life for today. I hope I will also be more open to seeing signs of God’s presence surrounding me.
Deliberate time set aside for prayer and reflection with companions on a journey does refresh and give a different perspective. I’m planning another weekend pilgrimage in autumn.
Meanwhile, if you want to arrange a local pilgrimage using the Assembly material and the icon, contact me.
May God lead you by still waters,
May Christ sustain you with living water
And may the Holy Spirit well up within you and give you peace.
Isabel Thomas Dobson
I look forward to learning about the autumn pilgrimage you are planning Isabel, as I was disappointed not to join the pilgrimage in September.
Hi Chris
I’ve just confirmed the date for the next pilgrimage , so please put May 18-20th in your diary. It would be lovely to walk it with you after our preliminary exploration of the route..
Anyone interested in participating please contact my office.
Last October we at the Clarence congregation in Greater Hobart (Eastern side of the Derwent Estuary) enjoyed a short Pilgrimage to Living Water. How good it was also to have with us members of the Sorrel Congregation and very importantly members of the UIACC congregation in Soputhern Tasmania.
We gathered at the Risdon Brook Dam which is a human-made reservoir containing water for the consumption needs of our part of greater Hobart. The reservoir is surrounded by a path used every day for walking, riding bikes, strolling picnicing and bar-b-queing. This path was the route for our wandering of the Kings (God’s) Highway.
The starting time was set down at half an hour later than our usual worship starting time, at 10.00am yes we were doing this sojourning as our regular Sunday morning Worship. The morning was set with clear, cloudless, blue skies. The sun was up and the warmth was about to come. Some seventy of us made the morning a good time together. The total group divided into two parts: those who could make the four or five kilometer walk; and those who would wait in patience at base camp for the active ones to complete the walking of the way.
We delivered the walk utilising the luiturgies and suggestions which had been offerred. I was priveledged to be the leader for the day and we used and drew upon the resources around us for reading, leading and carrying the symbols that we had with us.
I had planned that we would conclude the walk in about one and a half hours. I recall that we were concluded in two hours finishing obviously at midday. By this time the sausages and light picnic luncheon were ready for us.
The first stations and the last stations were shared together whilst the two groups celebrated the other stations in their differing ways. The waiting group in their positions at camp and the active group on the way.
The responses were deep and valable. We have a standing agenda item on our council minutes to consider whether or when we might redo the Pilgrimage to living water.
Thanks to the Assembly and Synod resources who called us into this wonderful spiritual opportunity.
Thanks Dennis for letting us know about your pilgrimage in Tas. It sounds a lovely time. We hope the resources are used locally using the local landscape. It’s a chance to include other denominations too.
I’m off to Carisbrook again- registration is open for the weekend of May 18-20- and I look forward to making the journey at a different time of year. Companions welcome!
Isabel