Peace by Don (a pilgrim)
Today was our first full day at Cabot Shores in Cape Breton. We were all very tired from the jetlag, not to mention that we had a very long day from traveling. This morning we had breakfast at the retreat center and discovered that Jake really likes toast! We had the opportunity to meet some of the other visitiors (and their dogs) and found that a hammock had been set up (which I put good use to later).
After we ate, we went back to the house to embark on a hike through the woods. Among our discoveries, we found a scrapped Monarch car (with bulletholes in the back!), a tree with large growths on either side (we now call it “the butt tree”) and an enormous cliff, which we got to climb down to the ocean. We walked along the shoreline and collected stones to bring back to the house. For lunch, we went to a quirky little restaurant called the Clucking Chicken, which interestingly had a wraparound shelf covered in ceramic chickens! The food was great. Finally, the group went swimming on the beach near the retreat center while I relaxed on the hammock. 
During lunch, we talked about why many of us felt so relaxed here. You’d be surprised how easy it is to just release your stresses and really let go. We realized that what was perfect about this location was that it was out of the way. Its very quiet, there’s no people to distract you, and you really get enough room to breathe and think and become one with your surroundings. As we explored the area today, I found myself feeling very aware and at peace with myself. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.
As we embark on our week-long pilgrimage, I’m hoping that we will all become not just aware of Christ, but also aware of our true selves. By the end of this journey, I am sure that each of us will have a better understanding of who we are as people, what we want out of our lives, and what we need to fulfill our lives. Shawn mentioned how journaling really helped him to do this, and I am excited to see what discoveries we will make both as a group and as individuals as we document this trip.