The mood of our journey changes significantly today as we face the fact that the Christian life is not always easy, not always whole. This day we focused on the brokenness of our lives and of others’ lives. This day was also a fast day for us – not abstaining completely from food, which wouldn’t be very wise on our active schedule at a high altitude, but eating very simply and only as necessary.
After our Morning Prayer service, we drove to nearby Awatovi, with Fr. Clay Kilburn (the priest at our host church) as our guide. Awatovi was, 300+ years ago, a village that converted to Catholicism. For reasons that vary depending upon who tells the story, the village was attacked by other Hopi from other villages and was destroyed and the residents were murdered. Now there are only ruins of the homes, the church, and the kivas. Scattered all across the ground are pieces of pottery shards – thousands upon thousands of broken shards – reminding us that this once was a thriving, living place. We returned for a simple lentil soup lunch and spent part of the afternoon reflecting on the morning and our own brokenness.
The fast ended with a celebration of Holy Eucharist at Cathy Wright’s home, just down the street. We worshipped joyfully in her backyard and offered our brokenness to God, who restores and mends. After the service we sat down to a chili dinner that even our resident chili champion, Kirk, had to admit was good. A special guest for the meal and evening was Thomas, a traditional Hopi healer or medicine man. After dinner, Thomas talked a bit about his work, about the history of the Hopi, about some cultural and religious practices and took our questions. After we returned back to our cottage, we spent some time talking and processing what we had heard and wrestled with some of the difficulties of communicating across the lines of very different religious practices and beliefs. This was an emotionally challenging and draining day. Naturally, many of the pilgrims resolved that by holding a dance party until the wee hours of the morning.
Fear Not Pilgrims thirteen
We, the left behind
Have gone before
Or will come after
We travel with you in spirit
You are in our hearts and minds
We pray you journey well.
Pay heed to the road
Walk not too quickly
Look for signs along the way
Listen quietly
To the voices of other pilgrims
Listen quietly, quietly
To hear the voice of your own soul
Listen quietly, quietly, quietly
To hear the voice of him
Who knows you best
Better than you know yourself,
He knows you.
Speak often
With the one who speaks truth
Advice from an old pilgrim