Epiphany. I choose to use a very Christian phrase to describe such an experience only because my epiphanies have felt like grace.

The peak experience of any pilgrimage is an "Aha!" moment, a moment of clarity, of epiphany, in which you understand the answer to the central question of your pilgrimage. The "Name" of your journey has come to fruition. This can happen in almost any form, and not even a mystic could begin to describe the experience.

Unfortunately, as in any worship setting (and a pilgrimage is worshipful in many ways), spirit does not always speak in ways we can sense or understand. We cannot expect results from a pilgrimage, and just because we are mindful in our approach does not necessitate an epiphany.

Whenever I am at my lowest moment is often when I have been greeted with a moment of grace. The image of an acorn is burned in my mind: In order for the tree to grow, the shell must be broken.

On the Appalachian Trail, my moment of grace happened on a gray, rainy, chilly day. I was so frustrated by everything that day, I even exclaimed, "I'm so tired of this damn hike!" I sat down to read a pamphlet by Peace Pilgrim that I had been carrying for 400 miles, and my spirit was lifted. Her words spoke to my condition and I found myself bounding down the Trail, light on my feet.

At that moment a voice spoke to me: "You must write sermons." This was it, I thought, the answer to my query, "What am I to do with my life?" But then the voice told me, "...And that's all." This was the "Aha" moment that brought me to realize that I don't need to know my goal before I can start work in the world, I must begin by taking a step in faith, knowing that more will be revealed as I move forward. Thank God!

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Naming Your Journey | Blessing By Community | Simplicity | Being Renamed | Building Community | Moment of Grace | Search for Conclusion | Reintegration