Author: Scott Strand

26 January 2020

Last weekend I had the opportunity to do some diving off the coast of California near San Diego. These dives were the deepest dives I had ever done. The deepest point was 84 feet underwater. I also got to dive in a kelp forest which was a mystical experience. My three deep dives all had one thing in common, I had to adventure into the unknown.

On these deep dives we would drop down to the ocean floor at depths of 25-60 feet and swim out to the edge of the “shallow” sea floor. Approaching the edge was a surreal experience. I would be swimming along just a foot or two off the bottom looking ahead to see where the sea floor just dropped to depths of 100’s of feet below the surface. The point of this drop off was very distinct. As I swam over the edge I was looking into the unknown. I could no longer see the ocean floor, I was just soaring over the unknown, like a bird flying over the ground, but I couldn’t see the ground. At this point I had a choice to make, I could remain hovering over the unknown or I could embrace the unknown and descend down into it. I chose the later and dropped another 10, 15, 20, 25 feet into the unknown and was rewarded with the sights of sea urchins, crabs, lobster, and fishes. I would have gone deeper but I have limits to how deep I can dive. 

As we look into the unknown we have two choices, we can gaze at it from a safe distance or we can embrace it and enter into it. If we choose to enter into the unknown we need to be aware that there may be some risks or dangers that we may encounter. We need to be aware of what is happening around us. On my dive I was constantly checking my dive computer to see my depth, how much air I had left, and my no decompensation time (to prevent dangerous levels of nitrogen for accumulating in my body). 

God is often inviting us into the unknown. The unknown is a place where personal and spiritual transformation happens. It is a place where our faith and trust in God is tested and strengthened. The unknown is a place that may scare us, but by leaning into God and those around us we can enter into it and see what God has for us.

At the end of last year, God invited me into the unknown pilgrimage, a time to journey with Him into the unknown. A couple of weeks ago the place where I work had a large round to layoffs, we knew they were coming since last fall, but the unknown was what effect would this have on me. The team I work on took a significant hit with the results being a lot of the work we do left unaccounted for. This created a lot of unknowns not only for workload but for me personally. 

I am left with the question of why I wasn’t let go. I really believed that I would be let go and that this would be one of the unknowns that I would be working through this year. Rather, one of my unknowns is why am I still here. I need to embrace this unknown and move forward to see what God has in store for me.

This is the thing about the unknown, you don’t know when you will encounter it or what I actually looks like until you are on the edge of the know and the unknown. Is there an unknown you are currently facing? What does it look like? Are you looking at the unknown from afar or are you ready to embrace it?

A couple of tips. First, don’t embrace the unknown on your own. Invite God to enter into the unknown with you. Second, don’t enter the unknown alone. On all my dives I hired a dive guide to go with me. My guide was someone who have been into these unknown places before and was a second set of eyes to help through it. Finally, take it slow. Take the time to look into the cracks and crevices of the unknown to discover what is there. 

Let me know if you have any questions or need someone to embrace the unknown with.

Saturday January 11, 2020

I am now a couple of weeks into my unknown pilgrimage and I thought I would clarify why I am actually calling this adventure an “Unknown Pilgrimage.” Let me start with the work pilgrimage. According to Merriam-Webster a pilgrimage is the journey a pilgrim is one and a pilgrim is one who is traveling to a sacred or holy place. 

The pilgrimage I am on this year is one to know both myself and God in a deeper, richer, more intimate way. This pilgrimage may include physical travel, but will defiantly involve and inward journey to my soul. The thing that makes pilgrimages tough is that they take us away from our normal routines and force us to encounter God (and ourself) in places where we might not feel at ease. It is in this uneasiness that God can do His transformational work. 

I know where my pilgrimage will end, but the journey itself is the “unknown.” This journey began with an invitation from God to take this pilgrimage. To be honest, there is still a lot of uncertainty in what exactly this invitation entails. Words such as change, intentionality, transformation, and others pop into my mind as I think about the invitation. I am also holding loosely how the prophet Elijah fits into this invitation. 

I’ve been walking with God a long time. I have seen God’s faithfulness to me in the past, so stepping off into the unknown with God fills me with excitement and wonderment. I know this might not be the case for everyone. Where I might jump you may only feel comfortable dipping in your toe and that is alright. You see you are at least dipping your toe. The key is that you respond in someway too God’s invitation for you. You see your invitation is not my invitation, just as my invitation isn’t your invitation. 

The exciting thing is we can all pilgrimage together since we are all wanting the same thing, which is to draw closer to God.

If you want to take a 30 minute virtual walk around the prairie at Pacem in Terris click here.

Click here for how this pilgrimage started

Our Unknown Pilgrimage begins with a couple of questions. Actually, there are six questions, the first three are the same question but from different perspectives and the last three move us a little deeper. These question can be used to orientate yourself to who you are right now and what you want. As we journey together, we will return from time to time to ask these same questions again. You can breath easy as there are no right or wrong answers, they are here to simple capture a snapshot of where you are at this moment in time.

We are all entering this pilgrimage from different starting points—spiritually, emotionally, and experiential. The goal of the pilgrimage is not for us to all end up in the same spot, rather it is move us to a deeper, richer relationship with God.

The context for the initial question in each set are found in scripture. You might want to have a bible handy and read the scriptural before you respond.

As you begin this time find a place where you can sit and be undisturbed for a while. Now, settle into your chair or whatever you are sitting on and take a few deep breaths, feel your body settling in to your seat. Just relax and set aside the disturbances that clutter your mind and pray that God will allow you to hear His still small voice as you think about the questions. You’ll want to answer the first question before moving onto the next. Have a journal handy so that you can right down your thoughts as you sit with each question. This isn’t timed so don’t rush your way through it. Now take a couple more deep breaths as you respond to the first question.

This question is like one was asked of John the Baptist (John 1:19-28).

1. Who am I?

Now take a minute to relax, take a couple of deep breaths before you move on to the second question. (You might find yourself repeating some of your responses to the first question here, that’s ok)

2. Who am I without out using a role you play, a job you do, or a position you hold?

Now take a minute to relax, take a couple of deep breaths before you move on to the third question. (You might find yourself repeating some of your responses to the two questions here, that’s ok)

3. Who am I as seen through God’s eyes?

Now for the second set of question. Again, respond to the first question before moving on to the next. You can settle in to your seat again. Take a few deep breaths. Feel yourself relaxing into your seat. Ask God to open your heart to what He has for you. Take a few more breaths.

The question here is similar to one ask by Jesus to a pair of blind men as Jesus was entering Jerusalem for the last time (Matthew 20:29-34)

1. What do I want?

Now take a minute to relax, take a couple of deep breaths before you move on to the second question.

2. What do I need?

Now take a minute to relax, take a couple of deep breaths before you move on to the second question.

3. What do I desire?

Click here to download PDF of the worksheet

I pray a blessing on you as you begin this Unknown Pilgrimage and trust that God will bless you as you draw closer to Him.

If you would like to connect about your discoveries either in person or virtually let me know. I am also looking in to creating a virtual space where we can all connect and share as you feel led.

You can follow this pilgrimaged by subscribing to my blog A Sojourner’s Thoughts at www.thesojournersgarden.org (tag UnknowPilgrimage2020). You can also follow along on Twitter or Instagram #unknowpilgrimage2020.