I’m Off Then…

How did I first hear about this journey? I get that question a lot.

Several of my dear friends have gone on pilgrimages, treks, walk-about, adventures… whatever term you choose. These pilgrimages have been to a variety of places. Medjugorje, Lordes, Fatima, even to Jerusalem. I love hearing their stories and don’t doubt the significance of their experiences. But, I’ve never felt called to those places enough to get off the sofa and make it happen.

Inspiration, however, can come from the most unlikely sources. A few years ago I found an interesting-looking book in a second-hand book store. On the cover was a pair of worn out hiking boots sitting on the step of an old church. I didn’t know at the time how much that book would impact me. I took it home and read it in a single day. I couldn’t put it down. As I was reading about this pilgrim’s experiences I somehow knew that one day I would head out for the same path. The book was I’m Off Then by German comedian Hape Kerkeling, whose most famous comedic stunt was dressing up as the Queen of Holland and crashing a royal event as the same. In this book he documented his own personal journey from over-stressed workaholic to humble pilgrim in search of Divine intervention.

After that, I happened across ‘The Way”, a film by Emilio Estavez in which his real-life father Martin Sheen plays the leading role, whose character follows this pilgrimage and changes his life. I’ve also seen numerous blogs and vlogs on the subject and have learned a lot in the years that I’ve been waiting.

Not long after that first exposure to this pilgrimage route – about four years ago – I started a special adventure fund. And this past December decided it was time to pick a date and really get the plans underway.

Now, after all the planning and waiting – sitting in terminal 5 at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago with Saint Jean Pied Du Port ‘just around the corner’ it still seems like a dream. One from which I’ll wake up in the south of France.

More later…