I have a new favorite scripture. Psalm 84:5. “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” Pilgrimage. That’s what I’m on. I feel like I’m always in process.

Don’t get me wrong. I used to know everything, but sometimes I’ve missed the mark. Sometimes whole tribes of people miss the mark.

We can get so stuck on judging all those sinners out there, we forget that Jesus called the judgers a brood of vipers, not the other way around.
We can get so stuck on more, more, more, we lose sight of what’s really important.
We can get so stuck on principles, we miss the love.

I’m not saying we’re not to have principles. I just think the “my principles are better than your principles” argument keeps us in a frenzy. (Images of people with angry faces and swords come to mind.) “Come now, let us reason together,” said the Lord.

I miss reasoning together in this world of ours.

It comes down to this. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Pilgrimage Lesson #1:  If we do not have love, we gain nothing.

Leaders who whip up hate gain nothing. Everyday people like you and me? Even those who are pretty dang perfect but miss the love, gain nothing. This asks a lot of us. I don’t know about you, but it’s a reason I need pilgrimage, not status quo. I still miss the mark too often.