“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! . . . Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.” Psalm 84: 1, 4

In our society today there are many challenges/barriers to attending worship with a specific community. There are also many options for one to choose from rather than attending a worship service. From sporting events, to coffeehouse type places, to people being too stressed out, to having been hurt in the past by a church community, many things keep us from community worship.

However, the writer of this Psalm rejoices in being able to be in the house of the Lord. The writer goes so far is to indicate that a person is happy by being able to be in the Lord’s house and to be able to sing God’s praises. Many spiritual mothers and fathers have expressed the concept that if one is on this pilgrimage that worshiping in community and in God’s house was an important aspect of this journey. On your spiritual walk may you find the time and right community to worship and praise the Lord in! Vernon T.      

“I lift up my eyes to the hills–from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121: 1-2

This verse is frequently quoted to show how a person has put their faith in the Lord God who made the heaven and earth. Some may think that this is an old form of wisdom, which doesn’t have much value in our highly intelligent and sophisticated society. However, trusting in something that is gone tomorrow according to some scholars isn’t very wise. 

Putting one’s faith and hope in the Lord God who made the heaven and earth, and who was, who is, and who will be in the future maybe the way to go. In your spiritual pilgrimage may your eyes remain on where the true and lasting help comes from! Vernon T.

“But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.” Luke 5: 15-16

Having structured daily prayer and reflection habits are extremely important on this spiritual pilgrimage. For centuries desert mothers and fathers have set aside specific times and places to pray and reflect. Jesus often went away to pray. He knew that he needed to do that to stay connected with the Lord God, and to be renewed in his spirit and physical body. 

Some of us may try and fool ourselves into believing that having a specific prayer time and place isn’t important. In our fast-paced and very noisy society one may wonder how one can take time out of a busy day for prayer, but like anything else in our lives we will find time to do the things that are really important for us. I wish you well in setting aside a time and place to spiritually  stay connected with the Lord God! Vernon T.  

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. . . . Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way.” Psalm 37: 3, 23

One of the challenging aspects of this faith walk, is taking daily steps when we are not sure how things will turn out. When I was in the business world, most of my time there was in the marketing department. We spent a lot of time doing short and long range planning. It was an expected practice to make plans, and to work very hard to make those plans a reality.

That, however, is not always the case with our faith journey. In our spiritual pilgrimage we can be directed to take steps that do not fit into our personal-long-range goals. These steps can also take us to new places, once unknown to us. I left a career of twenty-seven years and went to the Seminary not fully knowing why I was going, only that I was meant to go, and I did. On your journey may you commit your way to the Lord, take the daily steps as directed and trust that the Lord will make you steps firm! Vernon T.     

“Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2: 2-3

I generally hate to wait! Sometimes I can deal with it, but I mostly want to get moving, get on with the task, get it done! Of course our society doesn’t help with this issue, as we want and have instant everything, and when we (yes also Vernon T.) can’t have it, we wonder why.

However, spiritual writers and the scriptures tell us that following the spiritual pilgrimage comes without a clock or stop clock. We are told to wait for God’s vision, even when we can’t see what we are waiting for. In my own journey that has been one of the more challenging aspects of this process. 

When you have moments of doubt, that things are not going fast enough, try to remember that God’s time frame isn’t ours and the vision comes at God’s appointed time. Blessings on your waiting periods! Vernon T.