Sending and Blessing

Last Sunday was my last at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church for the next four months while I’m on sabbatical. Paula Taylor reminded us of what was true about us and the church: We love God, his church and each other; the church loves us, wants us to be blessed while on sabbatical, and look forward to our return. Paula then prayed a prayer of blessing for us. Hands raised, the congregation was sending us away, so that we might be refreshed and renewed to return again. She prayed for God’s presence to be with us as we journey together to Israel, and then walk the five-hundred mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. 

 

We all prayed together from the Northumbria Community...

 

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me.

Christ, as a shield overshadow me.

Christ under me;

Christ over me;

Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me,

lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;

in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.

This day be within and without me,

lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light;

Christ as a shield;

Christ beside me on my left and my right.

 

…followed by the benediction

 

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

 

We begin our sabbatical flying to Tel Aviv with friends from our church and community to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. We will travel through the wilderness where Jesus was tempted and John called for repentance. We will sail on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water. We will walk the Via Dolorosa and the narrow streets of Old Jerusalem.

 

Then we fly to Spain, our most frequented country and my first love. I discovered Spain as a junior in college, studying in Madrid for six weeks and then traveling to Santiago, Leon and Burgos before traveling through the rest of Europe. The culture, history, castles, food and culture sparked a deep desire to travel and explore. This time we will visit a few places we have never been, but the heart of our visit will be a five week, five hundred mile pilgrimage across northern Spain. 

 

The Camino de Santiago became the third most important pilgrimage in the middle ages after Jerusalem and Rome. According to James Michener, the remains of Santiago (Santo Iago or Saint James, fisherman, apostle and brother of John) were buried in a small town in Galicia, and discovered in the middle ages. The cathedral was built and pilgrims trekked from all over Europe to receive blessings, do business, make penance or rob pilgrims. 

 

Today, hundreds of thousands make the trek with pilgrim credentials in hand. Movies like The Way or Walking the Camino: Six Roads to Santiago capture the beauty as well as the spiritual, emotional and physical challenges of the Way. 

 

I love the blessing and the sending of the Celtic Daily prayers. In the monastic community of Lindisfarne, it was understood that life was a journey with God. They were sent into the world by God on mission—and welcomed back into fellowship. They patterned their lives after the tides—together at high tide and sent into the world at low tide. A rhythm of sending and blessing, blessing and sending.

 

In the “dark ages” they courageously entered into pagan villages in northern England, just as Jesus sent the disciples—looking for people of peace and staying in one place to declare and demonstrate the kingdom of God. They healed, taught and shared the good news. When they were done, they were welcomed back into fellowship, for their own healing, teaching and sharing of good news. 

 

So what blessing would you want to give someone as they are being sent into an uncertain world? The certainty of God’s presence and the expectation that God would show up in surprising ways. The faith that Jesus was actually walking with you, giving you peace wherever he was sending you. 

 

Saint Patrick’s breastplate prayer calls on the powerful name of Jesus to be light and shield to guide and protect. I want to drive around the wilderness and avoid the storm. But on the Camino, where we walk six hours a day, carry ten pounds of the fewest items we could choose, and depend on the hospitality and kindness of others, it’s reassuring to know that God is with us and that he wants to show us his wonders in the storm and in the wilderness. 

 

God wants to show us his wonders—beauty, timing, heartfelt desires, unexpected surprises, friendship, love from a stranger, hospitality from those called to house, feed, comfort pilgrims—and for us to see his wonders.

 

And God loves us so much that he welcomes us home and we welcome each other home—back to where we are known and loved as family and where we can share the stories and celebrate together.

I'm grateful for being blessed and sent and look forward to sharing stories of the adventure.