The Journey Begins

I am going through some of my files. This was a newsletter article I wrote awhile back, ok a year ago. School has really gotten me off kilter. hl


Once upon a time a journey or a pilgrimage was an arduous trip with an uncertain outcome. As great plans were made family and friends would try to talk the voyager out of leaving. People did not always return from voyages, and when they did great changes had occurred in themselves and those they had left behind.

We don’t live in a world of voyages anymore. There are surely a few places on Earth left that qualify, although here in America we travel much and journey little. A trip to the next town, the next state, or even the next continent may all cost something in terms of time and money, but no longer is death a companion.

Consequently, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to talk of our spirituality via the journeying metaphor. But, as other metaphors don’t readily come to mind, it may be that our spiritual journeys were never metaphors at all. For in truth, years go by as we search towards ends we cannot imagine, changes will take us unaware and mold us into new people and new communities, and spiritual death and resurrection are a certainty. And let us not forget that our family and friends often try to talk us out of making spiritual journeys for fear we will take roads they cannot or will not travel with us.

Seminary is surely the ocean passage of this spiritual journey. Here at the beginning, there is no land in sight and the boat feel a little rickety, no matter that it is an ocean liner. The welcome and blessing I have received since arriving have been amazing, especially since so many people come and go in such a short amount of time. But the truth is, I have left home to be here. And while many of the strangers are on the same journey as myself, having come from different places, they will return home, as will I.

Maya Angelou says, “You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right." I expect that the Heather who left St. David’s, Portland in late August will not be the same Heather who graduates in three years. That Heather will never go home again. Instead, a Heather molded by the Father for His purposes will return.

But I also know the truth that I have not left home. I have brought all of you here with me, in prayer and intention. In my few days, I have already met people who struggle alone to interpret God’s will and I know that I am among the most blessed of all people to be lifted up and sustained by the faith of so many people. That you are with me, always, and have been touched by faith regarding this call from the Father is what has made it possible to uproot children and postpone ministry to take this time of formation. It is for all of you that I undertake this work and it is through you and through the Father that it is accomplished. May His will be done.

Heather Lee
The Feast of Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 2008