This essay gave me chills and goose bumps over and over… so many emotions and so much gratitude that you came into my life decades ago so I could still benefit from your wisdom. I can definitely relate to how you felt in this particular museum—I have been to the Holocaust museum twice. Once with my father (whose father was Jewish) right when it opened, and once again by myself about 8 years ago. Both visits have greatly affected me. Then two summers ago while driving from Winnipeg back to southeast Florida we happened to stay in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a night. Out of all the things we could have done on our one free afternoon, my husband and teenagers chose to go to the Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center. It was tucked away on a side street with not much else around, but inside those walls were stories that every American needs to know about. I will have to make time to go to more places like this on my future travels.
This is a beautiful reflection on pilgrimage as a summons—and I feel that call, too. But I wonder if the summons goes even further than personal remembrance. These places don’t only ask us to feel and reflect; they ask us to see more clearly the systems—past and present—that continue to shape human lives.
If we allow what we witness to truly form us, it seems that call must extend beyond the individual into the life of our communities and institutions. Not as accusation, but as faithful response—an invitation to examine where we are still entangled, and to let remembrance become something that reshapes how we live, together.
Pilgrimage IS a summons. And your comment that yes costs but no costs more is right on and one to ponder and share. Just did two, one to the part of Western ND where my family is from for a funeral and in the Footsteps of Paul. Both profound and deeply healing and opening and surprising. Thank you.
There's nothing like an unplanned pilgrimage, of any sort. Visits to hard places reminds all of us of the ability of humans to make the world better. It takes hard work, prayers and lots and lots of hope. May our world remember the lessons learned in those hard places. Thank you for sharing this experience.
A beautiful reflection. I had a similar response visiting the African History Museum. The silence of those walking up the path through the museum was telling as we, as pilgrims, did the walk, lest we forget.
This essay gave me chills and goose bumps over and over… so many emotions and so much gratitude that you came into my life decades ago so I could still benefit from your wisdom. I can definitely relate to how you felt in this particular museum—I have been to the Holocaust museum twice. Once with my father (whose father was Jewish) right when it opened, and once again by myself about 8 years ago. Both visits have greatly affected me. Then two summers ago while driving from Winnipeg back to southeast Florida we happened to stay in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a night. Out of all the things we could have done on our one free afternoon, my husband and teenagers chose to go to the Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center. It was tucked away on a side street with not much else around, but inside those walls were stories that every American needs to know about. I will have to make time to go to more places like this on my future travels.
Love you friend.
I’ve found my moving from comfort to discomfort helping my ability to remember. That is pilgrimage…
This is a beautiful reflection on pilgrimage as a summons—and I feel that call, too. But I wonder if the summons goes even further than personal remembrance. These places don’t only ask us to feel and reflect; they ask us to see more clearly the systems—past and present—that continue to shape human lives.
If we allow what we witness to truly form us, it seems that call must extend beyond the individual into the life of our communities and institutions. Not as accusation, but as faithful response—an invitation to examine where we are still entangled, and to let remembrance become something that reshapes how we live, together.
Yes, I think that’s right—it’s not just about seeing ourselves but seeing the system we’re in.
Pilgrimage IS a summons. And your comment that yes costs but no costs more is right on and one to ponder and share. Just did two, one to the part of Western ND where my family is from for a funeral and in the Footsteps of Paul. Both profound and deeply healing and opening and surprising. Thank you.
There's nothing like an unplanned pilgrimage, of any sort. Visits to hard places reminds all of us of the ability of humans to make the world better. It takes hard work, prayers and lots and lots of hope. May our world remember the lessons learned in those hard places. Thank you for sharing this experience.
A beautiful reflection. I had a similar response visiting the African History Museum. The silence of those walking up the path through the museum was telling as we, as pilgrims, did the walk, lest we forget.