When most Americans think of pilgrims, it conjures up images of large hats, big buckles, a feast, and turkeys. I guess that’s fairly logical, since most Americans were raised in the public school system which taught us about the Mayflower pilgrims who journeyed over to the new world because of their faith.

Personally, I have a sort of a Johnny Appleseed idea of what the word pilgrim means to me. Most of us know the story of the man who traveled across the country with a pot on his head, throwing down apple seeds, and building the nation one apple tree at a time. I have always liked the idea of being that kind of pilgrim.

The first definition in the dictionary says that a pilgrim is “a person who journeys, especially a long distance, to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion.” That idea seems compelling, but most of us can’t wander long distances like missionaries do. I remember reading a short booklet once about a woman who named herself Peace Pilgrim and she walked across the country to talk to others about peace. She talked about peace among nations, families, and friends. She meant for peace to be obtained nationally, regionally, locally, and personally. She talked about a spiritual peace because she was a modern day pilgrim, spreading her seeds of peace among all who would listen.

I believe that each one of us can be that kind of pilgrim without having to leave behind our lives and our families. We can be in a pilgrim state of mind, laying down spiritual seeds as we move among the people in our everyday lives. In that sense, we all have the potential of being a pilgrim, but it takes a certain amount of effort. It takes a willingness to be open to others, to be a listener, and even a good receiver. It takes the ability to share ourselves with transparency to those around us, and to genuinely care about what is going on with them. It takes being aware of others first, and ourselves second.

If we shed our former skins and wear the new skin of a pilgrim, we can be one who wanders among the world and shines outward with such brilliance. A pilgrim doesn’t need to walk down a lonely highway in order to spread his/her seeds. A pilgrim can be a pilgrim while standing at the water cooler at their office, while sitting at their child’s baseball game, while standing in line at the grocery store. Pilgrims aren’t what they are because of the distances that they travel. What distinguishes them is that they travel with their faith and that they bring it with them.

I want to be a pilgrim. I want to move among the world and spread seeds of spiritual wonder so that all might know the wonderful, loving God that I know. I want to remember to listen more than I speak, to cry alongside others rather than offer advice, and to exhibit love to those whom we, in our fallen state, think don’t deserve it. I want to be a pilgrim.