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For Those Who Have Far to Travel - a poem by Jan Richardson
Thursday 7th April 2022
Sue Peachey
As an Associate Leader with Journeying, this poem resonates with me as I feel it so accurately describes our daily journeys in life. We are all pilgrims who encounter obstacles and doubts along the way, but by keeping going we can be reassured that the journey is worthwhile. Sue Peachey For Those Who Have Far to Travel An Epiphany Blessing If you could see the journey whole, you might never undertake it, might never dare the first step that propels you from the place you have known toward the place you know not. Call it one of the mercies of the road: that we see it only by stages as it opens before us, as it comes into our keeping, step by single step. There is nothing for it but to go, and by our going take the vows the pilgrim takes: to be faithful to the next step; to rely on more than…
Connections… Journeying through Galloway, Scotland
Wednesday 16th March 2022
By Joy Rousay
Not long after the Gatehouse of Fleet walk was announced for May 2015, my friend Patricia and I made our booking, and because we were travelling from Western Canada and we knew it was imperative to make our plans early. This would be our second Journeying adventure, the first being to Iona and Mull in 2013 and we were eager to participate again. I knew that my maternal grandfather, David Porter had come to Canada from Galloway in 1888 as a 9-year-old – Kirkinner Parish, Wigtown – to be exact, but I wasn’t aware of any family connections in Dumfries on the east side of Wigtown Bay. Mere days before the tour was to begin, I was amazed to…
Walking to an Island . . . Iona
Saturday 12th February 2022
David Gleed
Journeying in Scotland is always wonderful! This June, 2022, we explore the Islands of Mull, Ulva and Iona, and in 1997 it was the same! But on that occasion the journey began in Applecross on the shore of Wester Ross… The view from on top of the treacherous ‘Bealach-Na-Ba’, the pass of the cattle, toward the small township of Applecross and the islands of Raasay and Skye, provides one of those classic Highland and Island, land and seascapes; rugged hills tumbling down to a turquoise sea with islands and mountains on the horizon - a view I first glimpsed, though without the colour, in the vintage film ‘Laxadale Hall,’ an endearing tale of a community determined to win its fight to…
Journeying Poetry Competition
Wednesday 26th January 2022
Here are three more poems from our inaugural poetry competition where we welcomed poems inspired by a pilgrim-journey to one or other of the Christian pilgrimage sites of Britain and Ireland, or by a longing to undertake that journey. Journeying By Yvonne Dixon Together we walk in step with the waves With horizon eyes and breeze-rinsed ears, Speaking slows to the pace of the heart, Prayer paths transform our longings and fears, Thoughts now follow the rhythm of the soul. I see you anew each day, Pilgrim Friend, Adjust first impressions, appreciate gifts, Filled with thanks as this journey draws to its end. ~~~~~ Kevin of Glendalough By Michael Mitton Gentle Kevin, Few heard your footsteps in the forest As you searched for your place of prayer. You came to your mountain like an evening mist; Mystery hung…
Journeying Poetry Competition 2021
Friday 3rd December 2021
David Gleed
For our inaugural Journeying poetry competition, we welcomed poems inspired by a pilgrim-journey to one or other of the Christian pilgrimage sites of Britain and Ireland, or by a longing to undertake that journey. The winning poem by Rosemary Power, Glen Nant, was published on this website on November 15th, but with so many excellent entries we thought we would publish others over the coming weeks. Here are three, by Laurie-Mo Gullachsen, Andrew Vessey and Pam Pott: Pilgrimage By Laurie-Mo Gullachsen In breath In steps In balance In hope In silence In listening In joy In despair In community In solitude In fellowship In striving In shadows In light In darkness In fear In bravery In loss In abundance In determination In peace In prayer I am called Forward For I am guided And I will not be lost I will follow In patience In peace In love In fellowship In faith I will go…
Winner of the Journeying Poetry Competition Announced
Monday 15th November 2021
We are delighted to announce that Rosemary Power’s poem entitled Glen Nant is the winner of Journeying’s inaugural poetry competition: Glen Nant That day before spring The westering sun touched brown boughs pale gold and birch trunks glowed soft silver. Did once tired feet seeking elusive Love come down the glen and see the pilgrim path alight with hint of hope beyond their time? Did the Nant wash stained bruises, soil, off soles, and Cruachan raise her crown, white still and wheeled with eagles, her flanks sheltering deer? Did the sun touch plague-weary wanderers of our time, rootless and yearning for lands behind the light? Was each enclosed in glow that day embracing hungry body and defeated mind, and shine pale gold? (Glen Nant, near Taynuilt, Argyll, Scotland is part of a medieval pilgrimage route). David Arkell, one of the judges…
COP26
Saturday 25th September 2021
David Pott
When people feel passionately about an issue, walking is quite often a response. This is definitely the case with Climate Change and it sounds as if there may well be a significant number of walkers arriving in Glasgow at the start COP26 in November. Here are two initiatives that it would be good for people in the Journeying Community to be aware of if you are not already... The Young Christian Climate Network describes itself in this way: "We are an action-focused community of young Christians in the UK aged 18-30, choosing to follow Jesus in the pursuit of climate justice." They decided to organise a relay walk from Carbis Bay in Cornwall which started on June 14th and at…
Journeying Poetry Competition 2021
Wednesday 8th September 2021
David Gleed
Welcome to the first Journeying Poetry Competition! Poems inspired by a pilgrim-journey to one or other of the Christian pilgrimage sites of Britain and Ireland, or by a longing to undertake that journey, are invited for the first Journeying Poetry Competition. Getting your entry in Entries should be emailed to info@journeying.co.uk and arrive no later than midnight (GMT) on Saturday 23rd October 2021. The winning entry will be announced on the 15th November 2021. Just one entry per person. There is no charge. Keep it original Entries must be original and not previously published elsewhere. All entries will be judged anonymously. Copyright remains with the author. The prize The winner will receive a first competition certificate signed by the judges and a ten percent discount on…
Journeying on the Isle of Man - August 2021
Saturday 28th August 2021
David Heathcote
Saturday saw most of us arriving on the Island by air or sea, with our leaders transferring us to Peel on the west coast of the Island. Our group were housed in different properties overnight, but the Deanery was our base where we prepared & ate food, got to know each other, had times of prayer & reflection - and tackled a fiendish 1000 piece "turkey" jigsaw throughout the week! Sunday morning offered a choice of churches for those who wished to join in communal worship. After lunch, Rosemary & Karen led us up to the viewpoint on Peel Hill and along the cliffs. Meanwhile, Phil had collected our final arrival from Douglas, and they caught us up along the coast…
Cumbrian Cistercian Way - Diary of a Journey, 21st-26th June 2021
Wednesday 14th July 2021
Sue Peachey
On Day 1 we all arrived at our hotel in Grange-Over-Sands and got to meet one another in our allocated sitting room before dinner. As this was the first Journeying trip to take place since 2019 we were all very Covid aware, but the hotel was completely geared up for the safety of their guests so we need not have worried. On Day 2 after morning worship we went to Cartmel and looked around the Priory, where there was an interesting exhibition of painted masks, made by people to express how they had felt during the pandemic. It was very thought provoking. Some of us then partook of the famous Cartmel sticky toffee pudding, before walking quite a long way around…