Pilgrimage

Post image for Guatemala: Discovering Discovery

Guatemala: Discovering Discovery

February 29, 2012

My first foreign mission trip was to the indigenous people of Guatemala. I led a gaggle of high school students into the mountains of Guatemala for three weeks. We lived in the community building of a small village, hired a local cook, performed music and a crappy play (to the delight of the locals), and explored, explored, explored. Continue Reading →

Thumbnail image for Epiphany with Mother Teresa

Epiphany with Mother Teresa

January 23, 2012

The streets of Kolkata are usually clogged with humanity but at dusk on a Friday night they become jammed with every form of traffic in existence. We arrive, on a late afternoon flight, with our team of eight. We jam our mish-mash of luggage and our dog-tired bodies into the extended van waiting just outside of the terminal. We have one goal in mind and only an hour to reach it. I’m doubtful. I’ve driven through these insane thoroughfares before. It is easier to navigate through a stampeding herd of bull elephants than the streets of Kolkata, especially during rush

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Arriving Cold Turkey

Arriving Cold Turkey

September 19, 2011

Over-planning is a trait one must possess when coordinating and leading groups of people on trips across the globe. The more knowledge you have about your destination, the less chance you have of screwing up and making a whole bunch of people very unhappy. The daily schedule must be meticulously planned from the moment your group eats breakfast until you say goodnight. You have to know the routes you’re walking, which restaurants to eat at, what the weather will be like, what mode of transportation you’ll be using, the history of the places you’re visiting, the contacts you’re working with,

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Pondering Dust

Pondering Dust

September 5, 2011

Every once in a while it sucks to be a Texan. I wasn’t born here but I’ve been here since I was fourteen. This is where I graduated high school, got married and all my children are pure-born and bred Texan stock. When I travel around the world and people ask me where I’m from the answer is not the United States.  I’m from the great state of Texas. And everything is bigger in Texas including our heat waves. We’ve had our hottest June through August on record: 60+ days over 100! Our average Dallas temperature in August was 90.6

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for The Pilgrim

The Pilgrim

August 1, 2011

I am visiting an old friend today. He lives near Athlone just south of the Dublin – Galway road.  The twisting lanes on the way are a bit precarious. Between the hedgerows and rock walls there is only enough room for a horse cart and a farmer humming a happy tune. As I walk down the covered path to his home, the stones click under my hiking boots. They are comparatively new to the ancient pavers that once covered this path. For the last sixteen-hundred years, pilgrims from every corner of Ireland (and eventually the far flung edges of Europe)

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Pilgrimage or Pilgrims

Pilgrimage or Pilgrims

June 8, 2011

It is not necessity for you to cross the seas, nor pierce the clouds, nor to climb the mountains to meet your God.  It is not a lengthy road that is set before you; you have only to enter yourself to find Him.  ‘For the word is very near you; it is on your lips and in your heart.  -St. Bernard of Clairvaux   It is an unfortunate mistake to assume pilgrimage is only accomplished through physical travel. Not everyone can go on a pilgrimage.  But accepting the mindset of a nomad-disciple is possible for everyone. A classic pilgrimage was

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for The Journey or Destination Debate

The Journey or Destination Debate

May 10, 2011

The popular phrase “It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey,” has been sorely overused. Half of the time, I wonder if the people who say it know what it means.  For example, I can think of a few journeys that are completely about the destination.  Who loves to sit in traffic? What about movies that are way too long? Have you ever taken a road trip from Dallas to El Paso?  And what about a seventeen hour flight from O’Hare to New Delhi? You don’t hear people saying “it’s about the journey” when they’ve been stuck in a

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries