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Good morning.聽

Not long ago I was given some time off and I walked a thousand miles through France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela, that great destination for pilgrims in the northwest of Spain.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I am now convinced that pilgrimage is the best metaphor we have for the spiritual life. That鈥檚 maybe why nearly every religious tradition uses pilgrimage in some form.

You travel light as a pilgrim; and it reminds you of just how much unnecessary clutter we accumulate in our lives.

You anticipate gifts from strangers, who, if you are open and welcoming, will offer you hospitality and friendship that is quite inspiring; and it reminds you of just how cautious, guarded and narrowly closed off our lives can often be at home.

You take care of your feet and attend to your physical well-being on a pilgrimage because you know you鈥檒l never make it to the end if you don鈥檛; and it reminds you of how often we overdo it in life, not really paying heed to what it might take to stay the course.

I could go on listing the lessons I learned on that pilgrimage, but my friend, the poet Jay Ramsay put it well when he said that 鈥渢hose who have more on the inside need less on the outside鈥�.

Amen to that.

Dear God, our bread sharer and companion on the many journeys we make through life, walk with us through this day and all our coming days and remind us what is really important, for we so readily forget. Help us to rethink what we need, to cherish friendship and to care more thoughtfully for ourselves and others, and for the earth, for Jesus鈥檚 sake. Amen.