Even without practising spiritual disciplines you will find a walking pilgrimage to be a rewarding experience, however, should you wish, undertaking a walking pilgrimage is an excellent way to explore two of the spiritual disciplines – Simplicity and Solitude.
Whilst simplicity is an inward reality which leads to faith, trust, confidence and freedom, we practice it by letting simplicity govern our external life and what we think we need for our life style. Are we ready to give up the abundance of material possessions we all have, the comforts of modern life? This is far more difficult to do, even for a short period, than we would imagine. You have to have trust in God, trust that your basic needs will be met. Many of us surround ourselves by things, busy schedules, a full social diary etc. to stave off a sense of fear and isolation. Being alone with God can be a terrifying experience. But to achieve the ultimate sense of freedom and yet connectedness to all creation, that is just what we must do. As terrifying as Moses’ encounter with God through the burning bush was, it was also transformative. (Exodus 3)
In the parable recounted in three of the gospels, Jesus touches upon the trust we need to live without riches. We might be familiar with the saying of Jesus (Matthew 19:16-30), ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ We might not even be a particularly materialistic person, but it’s hard to trust that even our simplest needs will be met, if we don’t organise that for ourselves. For some it might be giving up a daily shower with hot water, for another, a soft bed and for yet another, a hot cooked meal or hot drinks on a cold day. Or perhaps your books or laptop give you a sense of comfort, occupy your mind and thus provide you with a psychological crutch, or you regularly enjoy a glass of wine in the evening. We don’t need to be numbered among the mega rich to rely on external things to cope.
A walking pilgrimage means you are carrying everything you need with you and your pack can’t be too heavy. It’s a wonderful opportunity to try out how we cope with less for a few days, even if we then return to our homes with showers, soft beds and hot meals. Jesus did not preach in favour of forced poverty or extreme asceticism, in fact he himself was criticised for feasting with friends. It is the dependence on creature comforts and fat bank accounts and the false sense of security they give us, he is addressing. When you are walking with only few possessions on your back, then explore the feelings and thoughts that arise in you. Use the opportunity to pray for an openness toward simplicity, perhaps even praying for solidarity with the world’s poor. You might just enjoy the gained freedom so much that you will be transformed.
Solitude is another spiritual discipline that lends itself to walking pilgrimages, especially if you are walking alone. The assumption is that solitude is accompanied by silence. Even if you are walking with someone else, you can choose to have long periods of silence. However, do not confuse solitude with loneliness. Some of us lead lives surrounded by others, by noise, by busyness, while others are truly lonely. Solitude can be attained in either situation - it is an attitude that sets us apart, giving us space to explore. However, we must be brave to face what might initially be frightening. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. Alone. And even for him it wasn’t easy. But once you get the taste for time apart from others, you will want to incorporate this into your daily life. Sister Wendy, the well-known art historian and nun, moved from a communal order to a hermitage. Her spiritual journey demands solitude. We don’t need to be so extreme to benefit from silence, even short periods of being on our own and listening for the divine voice can be transformative. I greatly admire Susanna Wesley (mother of John Wesley) who raised a large family in a busy vicarage (home schooling all her children) which left her little privacy. Once a day she sat down on a kitchen chair, and pulling her apron over her head, she prayed for an hour. Her children and husband knew not to disturb her when she did this. But finding solitude amid the hustle and bustle takes a mature spirituality. If you want to experience solitude, take your earphones out of your ears while you walk and listen to the sounds around you which hide a deep silence. Walk with God as your companion.
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster (1989, Hodder paperback 2008…) is an excellent book to read if you wish to find out more about the Christian Spiritual Disciplines.