The Pilgrimage Continues

After what felt like forever hours of travel ( including a 2 hour delay in Washington, so cruel) we arrived home in Colorado. When I arrived back home, at 11:30 PM, my poor husband made the mistake of asking me to tell him about the trip. Seeing my clock was at 3:30 PM I just started rambling on and on.... Turn on the fire hydrant. 

So I've been home for 3 days and I'm waiting to rise.... But truly I have. As so many times before I have said, the journey was amazing, from pre packing to today and I know for the future. I struggle to put it into words. People have asked me what was my favorite.... That's a challenge, the sights, events, people, words... that hit me at my heart and continue to hit me at my heart. The timing of this trip with Pope Francis was huge! To be able to see him and feel that new found energy and hope in the air was impressive. Without understanding the words, you knew the meaning in your heart. And then to walk the streets of Assisi and hear the words of "rebuild my church" come back time and time again, in so many ways and forms.... there is hope. 

The trip comes back to me in welcomed moments with a smile, a laugh and movement of my heart. I feel so blessed and gifted to have been a part of such a group of wonderful people and to share in this incredible experience. 

Over and over in my head I have tried to bring this to a close, but I can't. There is so much that I want to say, so much to share as I re-enter the day to day life..... I guess what it comes down to, is that the Pilgrimage is not over, but just starting. 

I thank all of you who have read my blog! Many of you have spoken to me and I feel humbled and grateful to you that you took the time to share in this journey. I know that I have been very blessed and gifted to have been a part of this experience and that many of you would have so loved to have been a part of it. I hope in my sharing that I have brought you along in this journey. Love to hear from you. 

Blessings, peace and in closing......

The Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
 
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.