Why walk?

Ever since Rachel, my daughter, introduced me to the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela it fired my wonder and grew in my heart. 

 I think of my life as heretofore having two parts, growing up, and the life of the family.

Part One

 I was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan in a home like so many others . . .safe, secure, parents who loved me, friends, school, and church.  I was a normal kid, a bit more, or more than a bit, self-centered than most, but worried like my peers about friends, popularity, and pimples.  It was the 60's and all that implied for being young.  I went off to school at Kent State, there met my wife, Ketl.

Part Two

Together, Ketl and I started part two: the life of the family.  I dearly love and cherish all --my wife, my daughter's-how could a man be so blessed?-my church, my wife's Jewishness.  We've truly had riches beyond measure.  I have a good job that is intellectually stimulating and is full of wonderful colleagues.  

But now, part three is opening before me.  I still have my wife, and look forward to many more years of companionship and love with her.  My daughter's are grown.  It is my role as a father has changed significantly.  My daughter's don't need someone to coach field hockey or pick them up after school or wait up for them to return from a date.  What will part three bring?  In part I walk to ask that question and  to seek an answer.  What is next?

This week news of a death gave my walk a new urgency and poignancy.  A friend from my days in Battle Creek died suddenly out in California.  Keric Rowlee and I went to elementary school together.  In junior high we were often constant companions.  We rode bikes.  We sailed like pirates on Goguac lake.  We endlessly discussed the mystery that girls added to the world. The night Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface, Keric and I watched in excitement and wonder and then wandered into the warm summer night and gazed at the moon.  In high school, we double dated to senior prom, inflicting our cooking-- flaming shish ka bobs--on our dates.   Keric and I did things the details of which we'll never tell our kids . . ..  Like so much in this life, we drifted apart after high school.  I lost touch with him until a very few years ago.  I found him, via the web, out in California. He had adventured far and wide across the globe I think, but now was settled with a business and family.  We didn't strike up much more than an electronic Face Book nod to each other, yet the news that he died suddenly, leaving a wife and daughter and friends hit me hard.  I was going to walk to Santiago before I heard of the sudden death of an old friend.  Now, I will walk to Santiago because I can and he can't; because God sustains my legs and my heart and I have a question or two about why my friend is no longer sustained with those simple yet "it means everything" graces.  I walk because I wonder what's next . . .not just for me in Part Three, but for those I love, whose lives have brought me to this day. Ever since Rachel, my daughter, introduced me to the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela it  fired my wonder and grew in my heart and continues to inflame my wonder to this day.

Don't forget the cheese: it's an adventure!

Now I can easily create a false impression of piety about this pilgrimage: "oh, we'll pray and maintain silence, and contemplate God and the mystery of the Trinity, etc etc etc blah blah blah".  You could get the impression that I'm some sort of holy guy walking on his knees all the way to Santiago.  Well that is certainly not all that will go on, nor is it the only reason I'm walking.  

This will be a grand adventure! 

 I'm 57 years old.  I live a very Ozzie and Harriet life (well at least I'm the Ozzie part since Harriet wasn't exactly jewish eh?).  I'm leaving all of that and walking 500 miles across northern Spain!  This journey will be great and grand adventure.  I intend to have a "hoot" along the way.  

Anyone that knows me, knows I like a good feed.  I always tell my Sunday school class, "the kingdom of God is like a great feast."  So I'm going to try every bit of local cheese I can find.  I hope its stinky and rich and lush with the grasses of the Basque and the greenery of Cantabria!  I want to find and eat idiazabal (a beechwood smoked Basque sheep's cheese), cabrales (a blue cheese from Asturias), picons (goat cheese aged in caves in the Picos de Europa mountains), one of my favorites (thank you Rachel for introducing me) garrotxa (a goat cheese from Cataluna), and in Santiago de Compostela, San Simon, a cheese shaped like a woman's breast as a sign of the fecundity of life and a poke in the eye to puritans everywhere!  Friends I'm going to be in food heaven--eating, drinking, and contemplating just how good it is to live in this wonder filled world of rich with God's delights.

Like the Jews in my family ( who know, and thankfully taught me, a thing or two about poking puritans in the eye) say so easily and oh so gracefully,

L'chiam!!!!!

Prayer and Promise

Here is an article I wrote for our church newsletter about taking prayers to Spain.  I hope to take your prayers as well . . .

Prayers and Promise

I want to take your prayers to Spain on May 17, and offer them up daily with my own as I walk the 500 miles of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.  

Your prayers may be no more than a series of simple words and names.  I trust the Holy Spirit to know the longings of your heart.  

Your prayers may take the form of a letter to God: “Dear God, Thank you for the blessings of my family, my life, my church.  But I wonder God, why is there so much pain in life for my children?  Where is their blessing?”  

Your prayers may be more in the form of a dream you have for your future or the future of someone you know and love.

Your prayers may be formal like the prayers in the hymnal.  Your prayers may be informal, like casual conversation.

The form of prayer is less important than the act and intention of offering prayers.  

I hope you will take some time, craft a prayer, and then place it in the envelope (or give it to me) on the display in the narthex.  There is paper on the display for you to use if you wish; paper for you to give to others who do not attend Stony Creek, for their prayers as well.

Once in Spain, I will enjoy a moment of intimacy with friends every day of my pilgrimage as I offer these prayers to the God who hears and responds.  

I hope you will also consider making a donation to the Pilgrim’s Promise.  Pilgrim’s Promise is a fund set up through the Church Council that will make available money to members and friends of Stony Creek who seek through mission trips, Emmaus Walks, retreats, Marriage Encounter weekends, or training for service to others, to grow closer to the One who I seek in Spain: the One Who has been seeking us all from our first breath to this day.

For those who do not attend Stony Creek:

Send your prayers, hopes, burdens, or dreams to

pdoan@umich.edu  or   Peter Freedman-Doan   5813 Rothbury Ct.  Ypsilanti, MI  48197

If you choose to donate, make your checks payable to Stony Creek United Methodist Church and please write “Pilgrim’s Promise” in the memo area of the check.

Stony Creek United Methodist Church

5493 Willis Rd

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Preparations

I prepare for this pilgrimage in all sorts of ways.  Two years ago, I began walking.  I used to walk 2.5 miles from home to the nearest bus stop, and take the bus into work.  My companion, Peter, and I have taken very long walks through the quiet back roads south of Manchester, Michigan.  The walk I enjoy the most is the 4 mile walk to church on Sunday mornings.  I've done that a dozen or so times over the last couple of years.  This past Sunday, I did not see a soul until I was less than 1/2 mile from church.  The birds flitted about.  The occasional dog gave me a greeting.  I heard the crazy improv rhythms of a wood pecker and crows puffing chests at each other over territory high in the trees.  To have the privilege of a bit over an hour before church filled with the quiet crunch of shoe on gravel and mind wandering from prayer to hymn fragment to wife to kids to prayer to . .  .well now, that is preparation indeed.

The Northern Route itinerary

Our itnerary si Deus Vult Day from and to Miles 1 Irun to San Sebastian 14.2 2 San Sebastian to Zarautz 13.6 3 Zarautz to Deba 20.0 4 Deba to Zenaruzza 18.5 5 Zenaruzza to Guernika 10.5 6 Guernika to Lezama 14.7 7 REST 8 Lezama to Bilbao 3.6 9 Bilbao to Portugalete 13.4 10 Portugalete to Castro-Urdiales 24.7 11 Castro-Urdiales to Laredo 20.0 12 Laredo to Guemes 16.3 13 Guemes to Santander 8.1 14 REST 15 Santander to Santillana del mar 24.6 16 Santillana del mar to Comillas 13.5 17 Comillas to San Vicente del Barquera 7.8 18 San Vicente de la Barquera to Llanes 25.4 19 Llanes to Ribadesella 17.0 20 Ribadesella to Sebrayo 22.7 21 REST 22 Sebrayo to Valdedios 10.0 23 Valdedios to Gijon 14.3 24 Gijon to Aviles 15.2 25 Aviles to Cudillero 21.6 26 Cudiller to Cadavedo 18.9 27 Cadavedo to Luarca 10.0 28 REST 29 Luarca to La Caridad 16.8 30 La Caridad to Ribadeo 13.2 31 Ribadeo to Lourenza 16.4 32 Lourenza to Gontan/Abadin 16.9 33 Gontan/Abadin to Vilalba 11.3 34 Vilalba to Baamonde 11.8 35 REST 36 Baamonde to Sobrado dos Monxes 24.9 37 Sobrado dos Monxes to Arzua 14.6 38 Arzua to Arca do Pino 13.2 39 Arca do Pino to Santiago de Compostela 13.2 40 REST and REUNITED WITH KETL 530.9

Mystery and Longing . . .

     On Monday, May 21^st, Peter Harris and I will wake up early, re-pack our packs from the nights stay in Irum, say a brief prayer and cast off into the devotion to mystery and longing that is my Camino.  I had dreamed of this morning for three years.  With great and good intention, I cast myself into a rather daunting unknown: a 500 mile walk across northern Spain.  For the next 40 days I’ll wake every morning and set out looking to match steps, to fall into line with, the One who says “I am the Way”.  The gospel writer John recounts that after encountering  Jesus, Philip looked for his friend Nathanael and said, “Come and see.”  The stories of the Camino I have read so endlessly for the last three years have too beckoned me to “Come and see.”  In my fears about the physical strain, the language barriers, living so closely with a companion for 40 days, I take comfort from the story.  When Nathanael finally meets Jesus, Jesus says, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  I go to meet One who already knows me, who has been shaping me through family, wife, friends, church, and synagogue for many long years, who has been preparing me for this very time.  I just hope I recognize the moment when it comes . . .

My traveling buddy

Three years ago, when I started thinking about making Camino, I envisioned going alone.  Then, for a reason I can no longer recreate, I sent an email to three friends, inviting them to join me on The Way.  Peter Harris responded, "Yes".  He was pastor at the United Methodist church I stumbled into after too many years away from church.  I heard his preaching, it grabbed me, and I have been going to that little church ever since.  Peter and I became close over the years he was my pastor.  We led Bible studies and prayer groups together.  We went to lunch once or twice a month.  He's a conservative crank, and I'm one of those progressive types that conservative cranks like to crank on.  He's got more than a touch of the charismatic in him.  I've got more Anglo-Catholic sensibilities--give me "smells and bells".  Despite those differences, we are both orthodox as they come when it comes to the faith.  We both recite the Apostle's Creed without a trace of irony or "well sorta" or any other high minded sort of evasion.  We both get our fill at the communion table and want more.  He's taught me more about living the Christian life than anybody in my life.  I can honestly say that I can no longer tell who is more excited about this great adventure . . .Peter or Peter.

Our Daily Liturgy

I'm going on the Camino, in part, as a time in my life set aside for intense prayer and contemplation.  My walking companion, Peter Harris, and I will daily pray, read scripture, observe silence, sing, and pray some more. We are following the ancient Lectio Divina, The Divine Reading.

OUR DAILY PILGRIM LITURGY ON THE CAMINO

1.           The Shema: to honor my family, the rabbi, staff, and congregation at Beth Emeth, and in penitent recognition and honor of those, who since 1492, cannot rise and proclaim Shema themselves.

2.           Responsive reading of one of the Psalms of Ascent #120 -# 134, one per day, repeat cycle.

3.           Offer a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.

THE LECTIO DIVINA (an ancient practice of meditation and listening –The Divine Reading)

4.           Lectio: read--the Gospel portion of the week’s lectionary (same passage daily thru the week).

5.           Meditatio: search and prepare--“Jesu, Son of God have mercy upon me a sinner. Come Holy Spirit”.

6.           Oratio: pray--“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me; to you, O Lord, now I return it; all is yours, dispose of me wholly according to your Will.  Give me only your love and your grace, for this is enough for me.”(St. Ignatius of Loyola).

7.           Contemplatio: contemplation--A time, 1-2 hours, of silence contemplating the words of scripture and listening in silent openness for the voice of the Spirit.

8.           Sing the Doxology and John Wesley Covenant Prayer.

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

The Prayers of a Pilgrim

One tradition that has grown around the Camino is for the pilgrim to carry a stone from home along the pilgrimage route.  The stone represents the burdens and hopes the pilgrim carries.  At one point along the way, the pilgrim lays down the stone as a sign that all burdens and all hopes are in the hands of the Crucified One.

In the spirit of that tradition, I will carry 40 stones/scallop shells to Spain.  Each day of my pilgrimage, I will attach written prayers to one of the stones or scallop shells, add my own prayers, and leave the stone or shell there along the Camino.  I will photograph the location, and place the photo and the names of the persons whose prayers I’ve offered on the trip blog site I will maintain as time permits.    

I would like you to write down and send with me your prayers, hopes, burdens, or dreams.  You may put your name on your prayer or you may leave it anonymous.

 I would like you to donate at least  $25 to the Pilgrim’s Promise at Stony Creek United Methodist Church.^a  The Pilgrim’s Promise gives financial support to church members and church friends who participate in intentional spiritual growth activities like Emmaus Walk, mission trips, or spiritual retreats.  My goal is to establish the fund with at least $1000 (40 days of prayers on the pilgrimage X $25).  I would love to carry  even more than 40 prayers with me, and I would love the Pilgrim’s Promise Fund to start with even more than $1000.

Send your prayers, hopes, burdens, or dreams to:

pdoan@umich.edu  or   Peter Freedman-Doan   5813 Rothbury Ct.  Ypsilanti, MI  48197

Make your checks payable to Stony Creek United Methodist Church and please write “Pilgrim’s Promise” in the memo area of the check.

Stony Creek United Methodist Church

5493 Willis Rd

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

^aFor those of you far from me and from my church, Stony Creek, please feel free to donate to the Pilgrim’s Promise at Stony Creek, or if you wish, donate to another church, synagogue or charity.  Please notify me that you have done so when you send your prayer, hopes, burdens, or dreams to me.  In the book of Exodus, when the three pilgrimage festivals (Pesach, Pentecost, and Shavuot) are mandated, the pilgrims are instructed “not to appear before Me empty-handed” Exodus 23:15.  In that spirit, your contributions will allow me to come to Santiago and not be “empty-handed.” Of course if a donation of $25 is not possible, I would still love to take your prayers to Spain with me.