On the first day of a pilgrim journey into the heart of a Northwest metropolis, I am remembering something that historians have written about for centuries. It has to do with the relationship between nomadic and sedentary people. We are told that most civilizations have been deeply influenced by an ongoing struggle between the two. But here’s the deal. Both groups need each other. From one generation to the next, there is an interdependence that can’t be denied. With bag and ticket in hand, I am mindful of that today. I am a nomad going to be among the city dwellers of Vancouver, British Columbia. So, I wonder. What will that interdependence look like? I know I will need them to house me, feed me, guide me, and protect me while I am there. But, what do I bring to them? In many ways, pilgrims appear to be useless creatures. Yes, we put money into the local economy. That’s something. But I want to know what else there is- what else is possible. The way to find out, of course, is to venture forth.
A thought: pilgrims provide for their hosts an opportunity to welcome Christ as they have been welcomed (Romans 15:7). Someone has to be the traveling stranger in order for Emmaus to happen. In a variation off the old saying, "Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you," we might paraphrase and say that "Sometimes you get to be the pilgrim and sometimes you get to be the one who hosts the pilgrim." Buen camino. jpr
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