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Happy New Year.

My family and I spent Christmas at my children’s birth-grandparents' farm on Vancouver Island. It was a long journey. We left Vancouver on Christmas Eve, boarded the ferry, arrived in Nanaimo, and drove for over two hours to the grandparents’ farm on the west coast of the Island. The farm overlooks the Juan de Fuca strait. In the distance we could see Olympic National Park in the United States.

After a few days, we returned to Vancouver.

Travelling reminds me of the spiritual exercise of pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is the discipline of seeking a closer encounter with Jesus. It’s a journey.

Perhaps the most famous example of pilgrimage in the Bible is the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The Israelites had so much to learn on this pilgrimage.

Another idea of pilgrimage is following the way of salvation from confession to the cross to new life to eternal glory. This is captured marvellously in John Bunyan’s famous book, “Pilgrim’s Progress”.

As we begin 2025, there’s a verse about pilgrimage in Jeremiah. Jeremiah 6:16 says

This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

The Israelites have turned away and pursued sin. God calls them to return to him. He uses the image of a journey, a pilgrimage. The “ancient paths” refer to obedience, following the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The “good way” is the way of holiness. So, walking in obedience and holiness is where we find rest and peace with God.

Each day we make journeys. We travel to work. We go to the grocery store. We take walks. We visit family. We attend appointments. We meet in small groups. We come to weekly services. Count the number of times you go on a journey today, even if it’s only a short trip to a local store. And think about your spiritual walk with Jesus. It’s a journey. God calls you and me to walk in holiness and obedience. What does this mean for you today?

May 2025 be a year of pilgrimage for you and me. Let's ask for the ancient paths and walk in them. And may we find rest for our souls.

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

嗨! 新年快樂。

我和家人在溫哥華島上過聖誕節，拜訪孩子的祖父母。那是個很長的旅途。平安夜晚上我們很晚才離開，坐上渡輪，抵達Nanaimo，開了超過兩個小時的車程抵達了祖父母位於溫哥華島西岸的農場。

那是個愉快的拜訪。農場俯瞰住Juan de Fuca海峽。 從遠處，我們可以看到美國奧林匹克國家公園。 農場且養有綿羊和雞。

幾天後，我們開車前往渡輪，搭上渡輪回到Tsawwassen，回到溫哥華。

旅行讓我想起了朝聖般的精神鍛煉。朝聖是尋求與耶穌更親密相遇的操練。這是一段旅程。

在聖經中，有許多朝聖的例子。也許最著名的是以色列人穿越曠野到應許之地的旅程。以色列人在這次朝聖之旅中有很多東西要學。另一個更具比喻性但同樣重要的，是跟隨救贖的道路，從認罪到十字架，到新生命，再到永恆的榮耀。這個想法在約翰·班揚的著名著作《朝聖者的歷程》中有精彩的體現。

當我們開始 2025 年時，耶利米書中有一節關於朝聖的經文。耶利米書 6：16 說：”耶和華如此說：你們當站在路上察看、訪問古道、那是善道、便行在其間．這樣、你們心裏必得安息。”

在這段經文中，以色列人轉離正方向，追求罪惡。上帝呼召他們回到他身邊。他使用了旅程、朝聖的形象。“古道”是指順服，遵循西奈山上頒布的律法。“善道”就是聖潔的道路。順服和聖潔地行事，是我們找到與神同在的安息和平安的地方。

我們每天都在旅行。我們去上班。我們去雜貨店。我們散步。我們拜訪家人。我們參加約會。我們和小組聚會。我們來參加每周的崇拜。今天，數一數你進行旅行的次數，即使只是去附近商店短途的旅行。想想你與耶穌的屬靈同行。這是一段旅程。神呼召你我都要聖潔順服地行。這對今天的你意味著什麼？

我和家人有個愉快的拜訪。而旅程就是令我們興奮的一部分：趕渡輪，通宵開車，到達農場，享受家庭和美食，甚至幾天後開車回家。

願 2025 年成為你我朝聖的一年。願我們祈求古道並行走其中。願我們的靈魂得到安息。

讓我們禱告。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum