Pilgrimage
in the Park
This Pilgrimage in the Park arose after a
gathering at St Andrew’s, Rugby for what is called Thursday Theology. We met on
the 25th April to talk about pilgrimage and one of our number
suggested that a walk in the park could be a pilgrimage. I developed that idea
and invite you to develop and create your own points and places for reflection.
A mindful and prayerful walk around Caldecott Park, Rugby.
These are ‘ideas’ just to help you begin to have a more meaningful walk or
pilgrimage.
Enter by the main gate. Reflect, ‘Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them
up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.’ Psalm 24.9
Think about liminal places,
reflect on thresholds. Consider all the places you have gone into and out of.
What’s been some of those experiences. Pray for those who may be entering a
place which makes them scared, prisons, hospitals, new schools.
Continue down the left-hand
path. Pause by the toilet block. There is probably nothing more basic than a
toilet block. But reflect that God squeezed himself into human form and lived
amongst us sharing all aspects of our life, all aspects!
Further down the left-hand
path is a small section with benches set to one side. You may like to sit here
for awhile and consider the need to occasionally to step aside and observe life
as it passes by. Maybe pray for those who
for whatever reason find themselves pushed to one side.
Next, we notice the bowls
club and the tennis courts. To enjoy and play these games you need rules. What
rules does God invite us to embrace so that we can ‘play a good game’ and enjoy
life with others?
Continuing around we come to
a small ‘toddler play area.’ If the rules are being kept, then younger children
will play in here in a safe space with very clear boundaries. And hopefully
they will be supervised. We think of those just stepping out on their journey
of Faith. What might we do to help them, to keep them safe in their initial
explorations and the journey they have embarked up?
Our next reflection is the
café. Give thanks to God for all places of refreshment as it presents itself in
all its forms, feeding the mind, body, and spirit. We might pray for those for
whom the idea of being able to buy a drink and a snack in the park is but an
impossible dream.
As we continue to walk past
the café, we will notice the area set back where maintenance is carried out and
machinery and other items are stored. We reflect on another Garden, the Garden
in Eden, and God’s mandate to Adam and Eve to care for that garden and to help
it to grow and flourish. That commission is still ours to pick up as we partner
with God in establishing his kingdom as we declare and pray the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Your
Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.’
Casting our eyes over to right we will see the statue of a tuba player. We lift our spirits and give thanks for the sheer joy, power, and passion of music. For the way we can use music to praise God.
Our walk has nearly ended and
our final point for reflection is the larger play park.
(The sand under the
equipment should also give you numerous points to reflect upon)
Simply allow these words of
Jesus to sink deep into your heart and mind.
‘He called a
little child to him and placed the child among them. And
he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore,
whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven.’ Matthew 18.2-4
When you are ready exit the park, but…
And the end of all our
exploring
Will be to arrive where we
started
And know the place for the
first time.
Through the unknown,
remembered gate
When the last of earth left
to discover
Is that which was the
beginning;
At the source of the longest
river
The voice of the hidden
waterfall
And the children in the
apple-tree
Not known, because not
looked for
But heard, half-heard, in
the stillness
Between two waves of the
sea.
Captain Gordon Banks CA Emeritus 1st May 2024
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