Along the Way pt.2

October 19th, 2018 by Carl Buffington

Along the Way
 
"All the way to heaven is heaven, because He said I am the Way" St. Catharine
 

Barbara and I plan to hike the last part of the Camino de Santiago next September. It's a pilgrimage beginning in the Pyrenees and concluding in Spain following the way of St. James the apostle.

There's a fun movie about it, The Way, with Martin Sheen. As the story goes, his son is killed at the outset of the Camino. Martin decides to make the hike himself, dispersing his son's ashes along the way.

Along the way he meets up with the scarecrow, the tin man, and the lion. Not really. But he does make the journey with 3 fun characters - a wounded woman wanting to quit smoking, an over weight man wanting to fit into his suit for a wedding, and an author trying to break free from writer's block.

It's a wonderful, and perhaps too real, journey.

As I am reflecting on the gospel for last Sunday and this (i.e. James and John wanting the right and left of Jesus in His glory and the others being indignant...), I think of those we get to travel with on our pilgrimage.

For example -- Our small group this fall was, well it could have been a great movie, and I am certain our Lord was blessed watching and listening. It makes all the difference when others are going with you and are reaching out and touching lives around them. We encourage one another!

(Heb. 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.)

I can't recall being more enriched by simple testimonies

New Covenant is a doubly blessed community of faith. Not only do we have one another, but our arms reach out far beyond our walls.
 

Archbishop Kolin & Bishop WilliamToday, Thursday October 18th, Ivan Sikha of MissionIndia is picking up Freda and Archbishop Kolini++ from Rwanda, and Bishop William+ from DRC at the airport. And tomorrow they will fly to Haiti to minister and spend 4 days with Fr. Burnet Cherisol, the Anglican Vicar of Haiti. Then they will return to spend a few days with us.

Father BurnetThese people have suffered greatly and paid a high price to follow Jesus, and to be in relationship with us. These people are true  hero servants of the Faith! And to walk with them along the way to the promised inheritance is indeed an honor. A precious gift from Abba's hand!

As the end of my ministry as rector of this parish draws near, I am awed, and in utter thanksgiving that God has allowed me to know these saints and in some way support their work for the Kingdom. I am also incredibly thankful for God's graciousness in letting me be a part of this body of Christ that has chosen to reach out in love along the way!

"Loving each other is what we were meant to do and how we were made to roll. It's not where we start when we begin following Jesus; it's the beautiful path we travel the rest of our lives."

From EVERYBODY ALWAYS by Bob Goff.

Blessings,

 

Related

Friday Epistle November 19 2017
November 19, 2017 In Friday Epistles
Friday Epistle for January 19, 2018
January 19, 2018 In Friday Epistles
Friday Epistle for July 6, 2018
July 6, 2018 In Friday Epistles

About this author:

Carl Buffington

Carl Buffington

Carl Buffington is a bishop in Anglican Mission International (AMI). He has been in ministry for over forty years. He lives in Florida with his wife Barb and their lively golden retriever, Sammy.

Subscribe To Our Blog

Recent Posts

Categories

see all