An envelope just landed on the manse doormat and as soon as I looked at it I knew what would be inside (the address rather gave it away) - it's my official pilgrim passport!
The accompanying letter says that this document "distinguishes the true pilgrim from any other traveller" so this has made everything suddenly feel very real indeed! I'm going to be an actual pilgrim walking a pilgrimage, finally fulfilling the words of my old school hymn:
He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round with dismal stories
do but themselves confound - his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
he will make good his right to be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, thou dost defend us with thy Spirit,
we know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labour night and day to be a pilgrim.
Text: P. Dearmer 1867-1936
Music: Trad. melody Monks Gate
I know that in becoming a Christian and choosing to follow God I've been a pilgrim most of my life, but I don't think I ever thought, as I belted this out with a fair degree of enthusiasm, that one day I would be going on an actual pilgrimage! Though I do have to be honest - most of the time I sang it I did try and get away with singing as loudly as possible: "To be a penguin" 🐧 rather than the intended words 😂
