Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Pilgrimage

Friends of mine are about to leave on a pilgrimage to Ireland so I'm reading In Search of Sacred Places by Daniel Taylor. I hope this isn't a metaphor for my life - others do and I read about it. It would have been great to go with them but all my extra income these days is going to pay off vet bills and mechanic bills. The van is in the shop again for the second time in about a month and this time it is going to be very expensive. But Robbie continues to improve and I've decided to keep some perspective. If my little guy is well then everything else is okay too.

Anyway, back to more spiritual matters. Taylor says that the Celts recognized three kinds of martyrdom: red, green and white. Red martyrdom was death by the shedding of blood. Green martyrdom was living as a hermit. White martyrdom was to let the winds and the tides take you where ever God wanted you to go. It was a decision "to be a peregrinatio - a wanderer for God." (p. 29)

That is what I hope these peregrinations are helping me with, my inner pilgrimage with God.

6 comments:

Hjördís said...

Why only red, green and white martyrs? What is the significance of those particular colours?Suppose it happens that you are both a wanderer AND a blood-shedder (sheddee?). Does that make you a pink marytr? And do you count as a green or at least a semi-green martyr if you FEEL as thought you are cut off from the rest of the civilized world? I think we need a full spectrum of martyrs. This whole schema is bursting with possibilities. I say we all start brainstorming ideas for yellow, purple, and turquoise martyrs!

Erin said...

Are we feeling a little like a martyr? I don't think having to endure 22 hours of sunlight a day counts :-)

Erin said...

Although maybe that could qualify for yellow martyrdom...

Hjördís said...

Yes!

Hjördís said...

And you're a blue martyr for having to endure and excessive number of rainy days.

Erin said...

Am I blue, am I blue...
ain't these tears in my eyes telling you...
no, today it is
Blue skies smiling on me, nothing but blue skies do I see....

hope you are getting some heat Sarah....