PILGRIM PRINCIPLES

Our lives are governed by systems, whether we are aware of it or not. Measured by our daily routines, our priorities, and our worldview, the systems in which we live determine both who we are and who we are becoming. However, just as a pilgrim sets an intention for her journey, engaging in her quest and opening herself up to transformation, we can be intentional about the systems that form our lives. One way we can be intentional is through structuring our lives each day with the quest of the pilgrim in mind by creating and participating in a Rule of Life.

A Rule of Life is a set of guidelines that help us to remain intentional in our interior journeys, daily routines, and communities. Developing and living by a Rule of Life is an ancient tradition practiced by religious communities and individuals alike for centuries. Well known Rules of Life include the Rule of St. Benedict, practiced by Benedictine communities, as well as the Rule of St. Francis, practiced by Franciscan communities. With the rise of the neo-monastic movement in Christianity today, many modern communities are doing this as well, developing Rules of Life that are both counter-cultural and deeply engaging.

Here I share with you a Rule of Life I’ve developed with the pilgrim in mind, called Pilgrim Principles. Written through the lens of pilgrimage, this Rule allows us to maintain the posture of a pilgrim both at home and abroad. With each principle, I offer suggestions on how to put it into practice.

It is my hope that you are inspired by this Rule and the suggested practices, and that you will engage them and make them your own. It is important to note, however, that a Rule of Life is not something that we strive to achieve, but rather a basis from which we live. So as you begin to apply these Rules, be sure that you begin your practice from the place where you are. If you do, I am confident you will discover the pilgrim inside.

a pilgrimlooks for the sacred in the

quotidian

a pilgrim is a good steward of

resources

a pilgrim creates daily rhythms to ground himself

a pilgrim seeks to know his

inner witness

a pilgrim practices somatic spirituality

a pilgrim immersesherself in culture

a pilgrim carries herself with curiosity

A PILGRIM LOOKS FOR THE SACRED INTHE QUOTIDIAN

quo•tid•i•an [kwo-tid-ee-uh n], adjective

1. daily2. usual or customary; everyday3. ordinary; commonplace

A pilgrim practices awareness, delighting in the divine mysteries and manifestations that surround her, whether it is a bulb sprouting in the cold winter, the laugh of a loved one, or the face of the homeless beggar on the sidewalk. A pilgrim believes that all that is around us holds significance and can tell us something of the Divine.

It is particularly important for a pilgrim to cultivate daily awareness that allows her to see the sacred in the everyday because the journey for the pilgrim is a journey toward the sacred, whether abroad or in daily life. When finding delight in the sacred in the everyday, a pilgrim is blessed by and recognizes that which is sacred, whether in mind and thanksgiving or in action and engagement. This is reminiscent of the Sanskrit term said at the end of a yoga practice, namaste, essentially meaning:

“The divine in me recognizes the divine in you.”

Through recognizing the sacred that surrounds her, a pilgrim is encouraged to make sacred the quotidian in her daily life as well, through elements of ritual and spiritual intention.

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Ask yourself, “Where did I see God today?” at the end of each day. To stretch yourself, be more specific: “In whom did I see God today?” “How did I see God in my commute to work?” “How have I experienced the sacred through my relationships with my family?” “Where did I see God in nature today?” “Did I sense a sacred connection with stranger today?”

Practice silence while doing something where you would otherwise listen to background noise, such as running or cooking a meal. You might be surprised to find what you notice in the silence. Hearing the rhythm of your feet hit the pavement or the sound of chopping vegetables just might relax you and fill you with a sense of gratitude. You could even treat your meal preparation as a prayer for those who will eat it later and the time you will share at the table.

Be present in your everyday interactions with others by responding from the heart rather than out of routine. When someone greets you by asking how you’re doing, consider how you respond. You don’t have to be completely revealing, but try to not say “Fine, thanks” out of habit. Instead, be intentional and thoughtful with your response. It might not be what the person who is asking expects, but if that is the case, they will likely notice and be touched by your intention (and abnormal response), too. This is a simple way to practice presence, and it is especially when we are present in the most basic of tasks and interactions that we catch a glimpse the sacred.

Turn a daily and mundane task into a ritual. For example, when you wash your face each morning, splash your face three times – in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. By doing this you are reminded of the cleansing powers of water and invite God’s presence into your daily tasks, setting your intention for the day to come. Think about the other tasks in your daily life where you can add meaning and create a ritual of your own.

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A PILGRIM PRACTICESSOMATIC SPIRITUALITY

so•mat•ic [soh-mat-ik], adjective

1. of the body; bodily; physical

Oftentimes if you grew up in a Christian family it is likely that you have been trained spiritually in words, whether by reading the Bible, Scripture memorization, conversation, or prayer. While each of these things are valuable, some days you might find yourself feeling exhausted by all of the words, longing to practice a faith where you can connect spiritually, and sometimes far more profoundly, in other ways. God did not create us with just a mind and call us “good” – God also created us with bodies that can be vessels of spiritual expression as well as reception.

Though tragically often ignored in today’s society, our bodies carry just as much wisdom and insight as our minds. In fact our bodies have the ability to tell us truths about our condition that our minds won’t allow to surface as we try to maintain control. A pilgrim on a physical journey knows this truth, engaging holistically in the practice of pilgrimage, incorporating not just the mind, but also the body and soul in his spiritual search.

Even though you cannot realistically travel to far off lands each day, you can still holistically journey daily as a pilgrim by practicing somatic spirituality. On the following page are some ideas of how you can incorporate your body into your daily spiritual practice.

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no. 2

Pray while walking or running, perhaps with a mantra, or simply allowing your feet to do the praying.

Use icons and symbols for focusing and offering prayer. Some might question the use of icons, but consider looking at it from a different angle: icons are expressions of beauty, and beauty points us to God. Traditionally, icons are not meant to be worshiped, but instead are considered windows that invite us into a worshipful stance.

Pray while holding a tactile object, such as an element from nature, or more traditionally, prayer beads. Tactile objects help us to remain present while praying, allowing us to re-center ourselves when our racing minds try to take us away.

Express your emotions through dance. Find a private room, close the door, put on some music and experience letting your body move freely. You might be surprised by what it has to say.

Listen to scripture instead of reading it. You might hear things you never would have picked up on before.

Recite memorized scripture or the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”) to the rhythm of your breath while doing a sun salutation in yoga.

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A PILGRIM IS A GOODSTEWARD OF RESOURCES

To a pilgrim, being a good steward of resources is not just about money, but also possessions and the environment. Being a good steward of resources is vital for a pilgrim not only because she has committed to a life of simplicity and responsibility on the road, but particularly at home, for it is being a good steward in daily life that allows the pilgrim to journey.

Being a good steward of your resources means not spending more money than you have, and saving and giving freely much of what you do have. It means aiming to buy things that are local, handmade, and acquired fairly. It means trying to not buy things you don’t need and regularly purging yourself of unnecessary possessions. I love what Rob Bell says about which possessions have value and which are unnecessary in his book, Love Wins:

“There’s nothing wrong with possessions; it’s just that they have value to us only when we use them, engage them, and enjoy them.

They’re nouns that mean something only in conjunction with verbs.”

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no. 3

Create an “out-box” in your home in which to put things to give away or sell. Each day, find one object taking up space in your home that you don’t use or need and put it in the out-box. At the end of each month take these items to a local thrift store or put them up for sale on Craigslist. You can then save the money or donate it to a charity that shares your values.

Consider buying birthday and Christmas gifts for others that are local, handmade, and/or acquired fairly. You can even try your hand at making them yourself.

Only buy food you can eat and get creative with your leftovers. Want to understand more how others live in the world while staying at home and have the opportunity to make a great impact? Make a commitment as a family to eat only rice and beans for the week, as is typical for most families in third world nations. Donate the remainder of your typical weekly grocery budget to an organization that in turn helps provide those in third world counties with meals and proper nutrition.

Recycle, of course! Not only does keeping items from the landfill help the environment – a rhythm of recycling can alter the way you see the world, allowing you to find value and purpose in things that are often discarded and building within you a belief in the potential for renewal for all things.

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A PILGRIM IMMERSES HERSELF IN CULTURE

As a traveler, a pilgrim is exposed to many cultures and has the most valuable and transformational experiences when she fully engages with and learns from the culture in which she is traveling. Each culture has its own experience of God informed by traditions and locality, and it is often the engagement with a new and unique culture that makes pilgrimage a sacred experience.

The ability to fully engage culture abroad can be fostered through engaging culture in the pilgrim’s own neighborhood. A pilgrim should be active in the culture of her own community, seeking to understand and experience its voice and creative expressions, both today and throughout history. A pilgrim should root herself in a particular culture, investing in and using the resources provided by her community, in turn becoming part of a greater story.

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no. 4

Visit your local farmer’s market. Engage with those who labor daily to bring you delicious food. And don’t forget your reusable bag!

If you attend church regularly, consider attending a service one Sunday at a church of a different denomination than yours, or even riskier – a house of worship of a different religion. For this brief time lay your beliefs aside and be a witness to another system of belief. Observe the faces and postures of others as they worship. How do you find the sacred in these places of otherness within your own community?

Become involved in local community events or organizations. Identify what you are passionate about and contribute that passion for the betterment of your community.

Take local transportation. Many people today that are comfortable economically live in neighborhoods surrounded by others who are just like them. Taking public transportation not only supports local services – it also brings us together with those who are unlike us, and yet ironically are on the same journey we are – a journey to get somewhere.

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A PILGRIM CREATES DAILY RHYTHMS TOGROUND HIMSELF

We often feel most grounded when we engage in a daily spiritual rhythm and routine. A pilgrim should commit time each day for regular and deepening spiritual engagement – a rhythm that both creates stability and facilitates growth. A pilgrim should also cultivate time each day for self-care, searching within to determine his present physical, spiritual, and emotional needs and committing to honor them.

With the demands of everyday life, daily rhythms for spiritual engagement and self-care are often thwarted. Because of this, it is important that a pilgrim create a place of retreat to which he can return to center himself when his rhythm is interrupted. It is good to have a literal place of retreat in one’s home or office, but it is especially vital for a pilgrim who journeys to cultivate an interior place of solace, because it is the self that a pilgrim takes with him, not his environment.

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Commit to a time each day for spiritual practices. The best time is often first thing in the morning, even if you have to get up earlier, because in the evening plans often change or we can become too tired.

Allow your time of spiritual practice to also be a time of self-care. Make yourself a hot cup of coffee to help you wake up, find a quiet place, and consider adding to your practice something you enjoy doing but don’t often find the time to do, such as writing, painting, or playing a musical instrument. Nourishment of the self is nourishment of the soul, nourishment of the soul is nourishment of the spirit, and God delights in nourishment.

Find a short, inspirational quote that reminds you of who you are or who God is, memorize it, and treat it as a mantra, using it to center you when life becomes chaotic later on in your day.

Center yourself through focusing on your breath, which you always have with you. When you find yourself becoming disoriented or stressed throughout your day, stop what you’re doing and focus on your breath, breathing in and out deep long breaths for at least 10 counts, which is known to bring relaxation and lower the heart rate. If there is something occupying your mind that is out of your control and is bringing you stress, try this: as you breath in, imagine breathing in the things you would like to feel, such as peace or stillness; as you breathe out, release things that you want to stop worrying about.

no. 5

PILGRIM PRINCIPLES // 12

A PILGRIM CARRIESHERSELF WITH CURIOSITY

Though it might not seem like it at first, there is a difference between seeking information for knowledge and seeking it in order to guide one’s life. The difference is that the seeker who desires knowledge often desires to be right, while the seeker who searches for guidance is fueled by her curiosity.

Today, curiosity is something often only reserved for children (and even then is sometimes discouraged). Many of us have forgotten how to be curious, and have consequently stopped growing, for growth and transformation are fueled by curiosity. Jesus himself encourages curiosity in his followers in the Sermon on the Mount:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Though this verse might sometimes be interpreted as Jesus saying he will provide for our needs (a good and true interpretation), interpreting it as welcoming curiosity takes its meaning far deeper and makes its possibilities seemingly endless. Why do we ask? Because we are curious. Why do we seek? Because we are curious. And why do we knock? Because we want something behind that door (also, we’re very polite). Through this interpretation, Jesus is essentially saying: “Ask and you will be given answers to things you never would have known otherwise; seek and you will find me in unexpected places; knock and you will be welcomed into a world of wonder and possibility.” Asking, seeking, knocking – this is the work and the blessing of a curious pilgrim.

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no. 6

PILGRIM PRINCIPLES // 14

Spend some time with a child, reveling in and mimicking their curiosity. Turn the tables and be the one to ask “Why?”

Write down your questions about life and faith, and don’t attempt to answer them. Instead let them be for a while. It just means you’re curious! When you are able to be curious about your deeper questions, you’ll be surprised where answers, clues, or inklings appear in your daily life. Of course, maybe there’s not an answer (at least in the clear-cut way that we often prefer them), but that doesn’t take away the significance of the question. Perhaps it makes the question even more valuable.

Create something. Imagination is the playground of curiosity. Write a short story, paint a picture of something using colors out of the ordinary, or use found objects to build something unique.

Plant a seed, nurture it, and watch it grow. The slightest growth of a sprout during the day or overnight can spark fascination and give the gift of delight. Take the gift one step further by planting something that can be eaten when it comes to fruition, such as herbs or vegetables.

A PILGRIM SEEKS TOKNOW HIS INNER WITNESS

The term Inner Witness might be new for you. The Inner Witness is a phrase commonly used by Spiritual Directors to refer to the genuine self that dwells within you. The Inner Witness is that place of interior retreat and rootedness – the place of both the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the true essential self – and is precisely what inspires our search for the Divine.

A pilgrim actively seeks the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in his life, that he might better know his essential self. When the pilgrim intentionally engages with his Inner Witness, his essential self and desires are revealed; he begins to live fully into who God created him to be.

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no. 7

PILGRIM PRINCIPLES // 16

Recognize and honor your impulses. When you are making an important decision, do you sometimes get a feeling that something isn’t right? Listen to that – it’s your Inner Witness telling you something. It might be telling you that the decision that you’re about to make isn’t best for you, or it might simply be telling you that you’re afraid or nervous of the outcome. Recognizing and honoring those feelings that pop up allows us to know deeper parts of ourselves, bringing us closer to our essential self. It is especially when we recognize and honor vulnerable impulses, such as fear, that we draw closer in relationship to God.

Practice Centering Prayer, beginning with 5 minutes at a time. Centering Prayer is an ancient practice that is focused on presence rather than words. Like meditation, Centering Prayer is a specific amount of time during which you quiet your mind and create space for God’s presence. In doing this, you create space for the Inner Witness, the communion of the Holy Spirit and the essential self. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with words, both without and within, Centering Prayer is a difficult practice. However, it is a forgiving practice that in reality requires of us little: our consent and the willingness and faith to continue to create space when we face distractions.

Pay attention to your dreams. Belief in the power of dreams might seem too new-age for many Christians today, but you can’t deny that the medium of dreams for communicating a message or reality was often used by God in the Bible. Dreams exist beyond our control, and therefore it is often said that dreams tell us things that we are unable or unwilling to recognize otherwise. Our dreams are thus a valuable medium of communication for our Inner Witness, where our essential selves and the Holy Spirit can join together to freely speak their truths.

Meet with a Spiritual Director. Spiritual Directors work in the realm of the Inner Witness, where the Divine and the essential self meet. A Spiritual Director can not only help you to hear the voice of your Inner Witness, but can also facilitate growth, offering wisdom and practices that will help you on your journey. Find a Spiritual Director in your area at sdiworld.org.

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