The playground on the south side of the church where my children’s violin teacher rents a studio features a corkscrew slide and brightly painted used tires arranged on one end as an obstacle course. Within minutes of any industrious child arriving on site, the tires are dislocated from their original intent and hauled to the top of the slide. This usually requires at least two juvenile engineers. Wedged at the top of the rotini-style slide, the tire is poised for release. The journey of the tire up the slide is a master class in potential energy. The higher the tire is tugged, the more gleeful its release. 

In May, my thoughts turn to pilgrimage. We just finished Observing Grief, a twenty-four hour immersion in the daily office, spiritual practice, and table fellowship in observance of life’s most difficult moments. In four weeks, we will travel to Iona with a new group of Pilgrims. In the midst of preparing all of the details, it is hard to keep in mind what pilgrimage is. That is why, this year, in our annual exploration of pilgrimage, I will be focusing on what pilgrimage does. Pilgrimage is putting yourself in a position where life is cleared out, trusting that, if you listen carefully, you will hear the thrum of grace pouring into your life.

Basically, it is learning to listen for the torrent of grace .

Life gets thick news and tasks. It like death by a hundred thousand notifications. Every second of every day someone is vying for your attention. Hey! Billoard!! Hey! Pop up ad!! Hey! Email Campaign!! They want you to look, click, subscribe…

Meanwhile, grace whispers.

Do you pursue the opportunity, consent to the merger, take the job, make the sacrifice, make the compromise? Do you plant trees or houseplants? Do you listen to the story or make the phone call?

Still, grace hums.

Potential energy is the measure of the amount of kinetic energy that could be released in a given situation. Sometimes the word “stored” is used to describe potential energy, but that is not accurate because potential energy is not tangible.

It is measurable, however.

The higher the children tug the tire; the more time and space gravity will have to accelerate the tire (until terminal velocity is achieved). The tire lodged at the top of the slide could not be tapped like a battery, transferring its potential energy to something else. It does not quiver or hum with the pent-up excitement of waiting at the top of the slide (although the children might). It is simply positioned in such a way that, given the right circumstances, it will convert its potential into kinetic action. In so doing, it will bring joy to the industrious children as it jounces down and around the slide. 

Preparing for pilgrimage is like hauling your soul to the top of a slide.

Grace is singing.