The fall after I graduated from college, I spent a month living at a contemplative retreat center in high desert outside of Sedona, Arizona. Silence was the order of the day…and of the night. Those who lived or stayed at the center spoke only at meals or to give instructions for the daily work we did to maintain the center, and during our morning and evening worship services. The rest of our time was spent in silence.

In the entrance to the retreat center’s common space hung a banner with these words: Pilgrim, there is no way. You make it by walking.

As my time at the center was ending, I took a small piece of paper, sketched a person walking and added the words from the banner. I folded the piece of paper up and put it in my wallet.

That scrap of paper is long gone, but the words have stayed with me. Pilgrim, there is no way. You make it by walking.

Now, more than ever, I understand the truth of those words. All you or I can do…

The best you and I can do…

Is to walk in the direction of our best dreams and our bravest hopes.

To walk in the direction of promises of God which are meant for us and for all. And, that is what I am trying to do.

I invite you to walk with me.

_________________________

Paul Alcorn served as Pastor of Bedford Presbyterian Church in Bedford, NY for 30 years until his recent retirement His undergraduate degree is from The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees are from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He lives in Vermont. He continues to write on his blog at We Get There by Walking which can be found at paulalcorn.com.