“We are travelers on a journey, fellow pilgrims on the road.” *
Beginning this week, the road that I will be venturing down will be to Buies Creek and Campbell University Divinity School. I am beginning the second year of my studies in their Doctorate of Ministry program.
My journey will be a three-year experience. It will culminate in the project—or experiment—that I will conduct in the Fall of 2019. I will write about the results of this Doctoral project and will defend it in the Spring of 2020. All of my classwork, independent study and research these first two years of my program will prepare me for my project, where I will invite our church members to participate in a study that will test the power and efficacy of Celtic Spiritual Practices in the life of our faith community.
“We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bear the load.” *
The story of the two disciples who encounter the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus from Luke 24 features prominently in my studies. I am drawn to this moment in the post-resurrection narrative because it carries such honesty and hope for fellow travelers on the road of faith. You may recall that the two pilgrims in Luke’s Gospel had been followers of Jesus until he had been crucified in Jerusalem. They were once insiders in the Jesus-movement, but the reader learns that they had given up and are returning home to Emmaus. The travelers are grieving the loss of their leader and in the one they hoped would be their Messiah. They are disappointed and downtrodden. Unbeknownst to these two pilgrims, Christ comes up and joins them on their trip. He speaks truth to them and becomes the way for them to understand the greater story of God’s love for His people. The story culminates with the revelation that the person who has been traveling with them is none other than Jesus, himself. This epiphany moves them—literally—and they spring up to race back to tell the Twelve in Jerusalem what they had experienced firsthand.
This story will form the Biblical foundation for my project. The travelers’ journey, their destination and their walk together with Christ is the framework for my experiment for I believe that both the Way and the Place in faith matters.
This semester, I will take another step down this path. My time in Buies Creek will be limited this fall as most of my work transitions to independent study. The class that I am taking at Campbell this fall is “Social Context of Ministry in Today’s World” and will focus on the discipline of pastoral care. The other class that I am taking--my independent study--will be made up of research and personal experimentation with the Celtic distinctive called Anam Cara. Anam Cara—or “one who shares the cell”—was the practice of soul friendship in ancient Ireland and was the way in which faithful Christians shared their lives with one another. Anam Cara was the way in which they provided encouragement, support and accountability to fellow believers.
“I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.” *
I cannot do this journey alone. And because of your love, support and encouragement along the way, First Baptist Church, I haven’t had to. I am so very grateful for your presence with me and our family while we walk this path. You have provided me with space to ask the deeper questions of our faith while making yourselves available to learn alongside me. Thank you for blessing this journey. I pray that my discoveries will be a blessing to you, to our church and to others who are striving to be faithful along the Way.
“I will share your joy and sorrow, till we’ve seen this journey thro. When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony. Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.” *
* ”The Servant Song” was written by Richard Gillard and is featured in the Baptist Hymnal, hymn number 613.