“Do not be like superficial sightseers, blind to the beauty around you, never discovering the meaning of the roads you take, interested only in a few fleeting moments to capture in a selfie. Tourists do this. Pilgrims, on the other hand, immerse themselves fully in the places they encounter, listen to the message they communicate and make them a part of their quest for happiness and fulfillment.”
– Pope Francis
Years ago, one of my in-laws did the unthinkable for a Philadelphian: they not only moved out of the Philly-area, but they also moved all the way to California. At the time, many of us thought they were crazy. However, as I touched down in the Golden State to 70 degrees in January, having narrowly escaped a winter storm back east, I was beginning to get the idea. Sitting by the water during one of my meetings, I asked my hosts, “Is it like this all the time?” They apologized for the chilliness as I sat there comfortably in short sleeves.
As I drove around, windows down, I quickly began to wonder why a move out west couldn’t be in my future. Sure, between the taxes and real estate, I would need to fork over my kidney, but when I thought about shoveling snow back home, I thought maybe it was worth the price. Maybe, just maybe, this destination would be the last piece of the puzzle to making all my dreams come true!
While daydreaming, my phone alerted me to a wind advisory. My East Coast mind couldn’t understand what the big deal was until I turned on the news and saw the devastating wildfires spreading by the Santa Ana winds. As I watched the apocalyptic scenes on TV and began to smell the smoke outside, I couldn’t imagine what the people who were evacuating were going through and I found myself missing home, however chilly it was.
As my flight home took off through the smoke consuming LA County, I prayed for those who were losing so much. It reminded me how quickly circumstances can change in life. There is no perfect place to live or work, and yet how often do I put all my plans for happiness into things that can change - like the wind? Whether arriving at a destination in this world or somewhere in my leadership, as a leader and as a disciple, am I doing the work on the landscape of my heart to be grounded regardless of what blows around me?
As we move into this Jubilee Year as “pilgrims of hope,” let’s pray for all those who are suffering from severe weather and remember that until we hopefully reach our eternal destination, it’s not so much where we are but how close we stay to the One who seeks to be on the journey with us that matters the most.
CLI serves Church leaders, helping them rediscover their potential and forming them to be more intentional with those they serve.
CLI helps empower and energize Catholic leaders by providing focus and courage to engage the culture with an apostolic mindset.
CLI provides vision and hope about the future of the Church with a humble, yet strategic approach.
