Wonder Voyage 2009 Summer Blog

As the pilgrims from St Albans, Washington DC, headed off on their journey home this morning they were left with a thought from our morning devotional in the Celtic Daily Prayer. The meditation for the day challenges the pilgrims to think how they would feel if, as they returned home, this quote from a famous song would be the description of their experience:

But when I returned how my eyes were burned, to see how that town had been brought down to its knees, by the armored cars and the bombed out bars, and the gas that hangs on to every tree. Now the army’s installed by the old gas-yard wall, and the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher. With their tanks and their guns, oh my God, what have they done to the town I loved so well?  

As this journey in N Ireland came to an end the pilgrims remembered that even though this pilgrimage might be over in reality their pilgrimage with Christ is forever; and as they departed with the thoughts of what they have seen here they can not help but carry it into their lives at home as well.

Thus ends the North Ireland journal…

The pilgrims from St Albans, Washington DC, got up early on their last full day in N Ireland in order to spend the morning serving with their new friends at 174 Trust. Quickly picking up where he left off the evening before Bill Shaw, the director of 174, took the time to tell his story and give the pilgrims from St Albans a clearer picture on what it really means to do the work of reconciliation. After that it was time to help get some practical reconciliation work done around the grounds of the facility, ie sweeping, picking up trash, and playing soccer with the local youth.

After that quick morning visit with 174 however it was time to head off to downtown Belfast for an afternoon of exploration. For the rest of the day the pilgrims combed the streets of the city, meeting friends, making new ones, and picking up some relics of their time in N Ireland.

At our pass the candle event in the evening the pilgrims took one more opportunity to really consolidate their experiences in N Ireland, remembering how their perspectives have changed as a result of their time away. The work of reconciliation is hard, it takes patience and perseverance, but it is not without hope, love, or promise for the future.

Departing from Ballycastle early in the morning the pilgrims from St Albans, Washington DC, got to make a morning stop at Carrickfergus to see a local friend, a young N Irish man who is attending school in DC.

This historical town maintains a well preserved English castle as well as one of the oldest churches in Ireland. Throughout the morning the pilgrims spent time with their friend as he lovingly welcomed them into his home, showing them the same hospitality they have shown to him in America.

Afterward the pilgrims made the quick trip down to Belfast in order to make it in time to meet with our friends at 174 Trust. This organization is known world-wide as a standard of peace and reconciliation, and right upon our arrival the director, Bill Shaw, took the time to tour the pilgrims throughout the neighborhoods of Belfast explaining to them his own story of reconciliation as well as pointing out the many murals and history of the city.

In evening prayer the pilgrims took some dedicated time to reflect on their preconceived notions of Belfast and the harsh realities they were witnessing in just their short time there. All of a sudden the topic of reconciliation was taking on a whole new meaning.

We pilgrims of St. Alban’s j2a celebrated bridges to peace. Matt, the director of the Corrymeela Community outside of Ballycastle, told us about the history of Corrymeela, and the Conflict. We did an exercise with two teams and two hula hoops. Each of eight people extended their index fingers to support a hoop, and they together had to lower it to the ground (easier said than done).

From metaphorical bridges, we went on to conquer a literal bridge, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge on the Antrim coast. It spans the gap between a headland and an island, and challenges people to walk 30ish meters suspended 30ish meters above the sand and sea. Many of the pilgrims (including me!) were less than comfortable (okay, scared silly), and the others really rallied, supporting and guiding their peers and leaders who needed encouragement and reassurance. It was wonderful to see the kids step into the roles of counselors and leaders. Once on the island, everyone found his or her own way to enjoy the space — some went off to journal, some climbed over rocks and hillsides, others played silly games and laughed into the brisk wind. One pilgrim said she had an epiphany on the island, and now she’s more certain about what she wants to do with her life. It was that sort of place — one to conquer fears and listen to small still voices.

Later, in the evening, everyone walked down to the strand/beach below Corrymeela, wearing borrowed wet suits, and plunged into the Irish Sea for one last romp. One of the pilgrims later said that it felt like a kind of baptism, a new start. The evening brought a less symbolic but equally wet activity, as the community had set up a giant slip-n-slide on the lawn, and everyone was laughing and being goofy together.

Our evening meditation and worship took place down at the Corrymeela labyrinth and bonfire. everyone was able to walk the labyrinth and think about the pilgrimage journey. If it hadn’t have been for the voracious midges, i think we’d still be out there, listening to people pass around the guitar.

A Northern Irish group of teens had come to Corrymeela while we were out, and as happens, the two groups met up and started sharing stories and asking questions. They joined us in our common room and talked late into the evening.

It would be the best day of pilgrimage… until the next day, when we went into Belfast…

Today was a day to remember for Irish weather as the pilgrims from St Albans, Washington DC, made their way across the North Channel in Ballycastle, N Ireland, to the remote Rathlin Island. This small island is within sight of Scotland and maintains a strong connection of Scottish and Irish history.

On the ferry ride over to the island the pilgrims got permission by some of the private land owners to traverse their property in search of the more “local” hotspots. It was not long before the pilgrims found themselves exploring abandoned brick homes and caves that littered the rocky shoreline of the island. We took some time at one cave in particular to hear a story about the Scottish King, and companion of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce. It was in a Rathlin cave that the Bruce fled to after a defeat by English hands, but through the perseverance of a spider making a web Robert was inspired to continue his campaign against the English.

After a nice lunch on the rocky beach the pilgrims continued their exploratory hike across cliffs and bogs until finally they returned to the harbor in time for a warm tea while waiting for the ferry home. It was a day to reflect on the perseverance necessary for the work of reconciliation, and the perseverance in the hike reminded the pilgrims that those tasks are not easy.

This morning the pilgrims from St Albans in Washington DC started their first full day on the Sabbath by celebrating the Eucharist in the local Church of Ireland parish. Being greeted by the locals the pilgrims already began gathering stories of their experiences.

In the afternoon the pilgrims embarked on a wild adventure hiking the cliffs of Giants Causeway. Avoiding the tourists, the pilgrims made their way above the world famous site to an overlook where they heard the Celtic legends of Fin MacCool and his son Oisin, after which they hiked for miles along the cliff face in search of an Iron Age site that once held a castle.

The theme of reconciliation is something dating back to Irish Celtic times, and as the pilgrims traversed these ancient sites they were reminded today how cultural clashes in their own lives can sometimes require reconciliation as well.

Flight delays and bad weather behind them the pilgrims from St Albans in Washington DC arrived in good spirits to Belfast N Ireland. The theme for the week is reconciliation and our home for the first few days, the Corrymeela Community in Ballycastle, is a great place to start.

Corrymeela is an ecumenical, award-winning, community that focuses on bringing peace and reconciliation to N Ireland. The pilgrims arrived to their new home greeted with a warm lunch and a quick tour.

Afterward they headed out on a short walk to the beach where the journey of pilgrimage began as they reflected on areas of reconciliation in their own lives.