One Year Anniversary

February 17, 2026

Dear readers— we've made it through this difficult year! When things started unraveling in January 2025, I felt a strong calling to do something. This blog was one of my responses. I began writing in order to assist myself and others in holding onto sanity and peace during such a chaotic time.  It's hard to believe that we are still in chaos one year later. In fact, it seems like this February is even more chaotic than last year.

In some ways it’s like we’re on a pilgrimage. That is, a time of unknowing that's changing the world and us along with it. 

It’s been a year of ups and downs.  Some of you may have avoided the news or distracted yourselves. Others of you may have learned more than you’d ever wanted to about geopolitics, world trade, artificial intelligence, climate destruction, a changing world order, authoritarianism, and so much more. 

Because you're reading this blog, you may have engaged in more spiritual practices.

Maybe you've joined “seedbeds of love,” [1] or other groups, done random acts of kindness, written letters to politicians, leaders of churches or other people of influence, donated money, or done whatever you felt inspired to do in response to the challenges of our time.

The long and the short of it is—the world has changed in this past year and so have we.   We've been in the refiner’s fire.  On a pilgrimage that we haven't chosen. Been a part of a world-wide journey of transformation.

Christine Valters Paintner describes pilgrimages as outward journeys that we consciously accept as times in which we can become closer to the Holy, [2].  This involves us being intentionally open to new experiences, [3] and taking time to reflect on the presence of Love in our lives and in the world, [4]. 

Pilgrimages aren't always filled with spiritual consolations. They can be uncomfortable, challenging and/or bring up more questions than answers.

Being open to all aspects of pilgrimage can allow us to grow closer to Holy Mystery in ways that are “beyond our own imaginations and ideas,” [5].

I have seen this in myself when I look back at my “pilgrimage-like” life with my neurodivergent son.  I turned to the Holy One more times than I can count while trying to mother my beloved middle child with his invisible, but significant special needs.  

And through this mother-child journey my relationship with the Divine expanded and deepened beyond what I could ever have imagined when my son was born over three decades ago.

But I must return to the topic of today—honouring the one-year anniversary of this blog.  At first, I had hoped to blog for a brief time, just until the world situation had settled down.  This continues to be my goal. Because of the ongoing world situation, I will continue to write. And I am deeply grateful that you are on this spiritual journey with me.

In gratitude for your presence and support, I will continue to present opportunities for spiritual practices during this time of ongoing pilgrimage, as I am able.

Today's practice invitation involves the prayer-blessing on the SoundCloud audio file below. You may choose to bless yourself and/or do the blessing with a trusted soul friend, [6]. 

You will need a small bowl filled with some water or scented essential oil. 

The words to the introduction part of the blessing are below the SoundCloud link if you’d like to read along. 

 Introduction to the Prayer-Blessing of the Body

(Adapted from the words of Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, 81)

O Holy One,

We have no idea where we’re going.

We do not see the path ahead of us.

We cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do we really know ourselves, and the fact that we think that we are following Love does not mean that we are actually doing so.

But we believe that our desire for the Holy does in fact bring about Love.

And we know that if we do this You will lead us by the right path, though we may know nothing about it.

Therefore, we will trust in You, the Source of Love,

Though we may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

We will not fear, for you oh Compassionate One are ever with us.

Somehow, somewhere. 

1. Brian D. McLaren, Life After Doom:  Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart, St Martin’s Essentials, New York, NY, 2024, 245.

2. Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul of a Pilgrim:  Eight Practices for the Journey Within, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN, 2015, 1-2.

3. Ibid, 3.

4. Ibid, 4.

5. Ibid, 2.

6. This audio prayer-blessing is based on Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, Garden City, NY, Doubleday, 1968, 81, Valters Paintner, The Soul of a Pilgrim, 9, and Anne Wicks, Blessing of the Body:  For Presence, 2020, https://annepatricia53.wixsite.com/website.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Maureen Fowler, a beloved spiritual mentor.