April 5: Ready, and Not

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

It’s Easter Sunday. It’s snowing, again. This is Calgary, after all. We leave on Wednesday, WestJet willing (2 words to strike fear into every Canadian traveler). Inshallah.

We said “au revoir” to our Knox community today in splendid style, with participation in the extravagant Easter Sunday service: string quartet, guest choir, highly-polished anthems, gowns and carnations and processions – all the “pomp and circumstance” of the highest of holidays (holy-days). I enjoyed being a part of the extraordinary noise we were managing to make (in a good way). Smiling was positively encouraged, this being a celebration, which is just as well – singing is my happy place. Carey was at the livestream desk in the balcony.

It is satisfying to have made a full Lenten journey, back at Knox UCC. We are away now until Stampede. We know we will return.

We make pilgrimage with a variety of expectations and intents: simplicity (feet, food, weather); humility (never so humbled as by the Pyrenees, or walking through a hurricane); reflection; presence, and, yes, also worship. All that time in nature has to offer: alone, in partnership and with other seekers. Life at Knox rarely offers simplicity (!), but generously replaces that with service, and delivers on the rest. Instead of the “respite” that pilgrimage has sometimes offered us in the past, this journey feels part of a continuum. It is good to be going and good to know we will be coming back.

Even as we look forward to coming home, we are ready to go. This year has been hectic, emotional and demanding. We value this. We value being useful; being helpful; being present. But, we are both ready to recharge – and, for us, walking the Walk, is at the heart of our self-care.

And, speaking of going, we have finally got moving with our preparations.

My “old person boast” for the month is that I have “optimized our website for mobile”. What this really means is that, after 18 months of using the Hostinger platform, I finally noticed the little rectangular icon slap bang in the middle of the main menu… A simple click (plus half an hour dragging things about) and voilá! We are “optimized for mobile”. Not a particularly impressive achievement, but I am ridiculously proud of it!

Things are falling into place. After coming back somewhat impaired last time, I finally got my podiatry referral scheduled (March 15th) AND my orthotics came through on Thursday. So, I will have them for this walk, after my fitting tomorrow. I expect to be in agony at first, while my muscles adjust. But, knowing I am ensuring my future capacity is very important. Our weather gear has been washed and rewaxed with the nasty-smelling specialist “stuff” recommended. Our extensive battery of railway tickets for 3 countries have been printed and checked… We’ve even agonised over and packed our “fancy” clothes for the Transatlantic crossing in July…

Whisper it: we are almost ready.