First Week in Lent (3)

 

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”  37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”                                                                                                                                                        John 1: 35-39

Pilgrim

It was a moose. We’d been staring at it, saying things like, That looks too tall for a steer, and Is that on the right side of the fence? When we realized what it was, grazing spruce boughs just outside our pature, a feeling of immense excitement took over.

Maybe because it’s been so long since we’ve had visitors, but there was the urge to rush out and greet this visitor—to say, Hello!, to say, Welcome!—like Abraham, welcoming the angels, rushing around to offer them food and drink. We sensed, though, if we went anywhere near the moose, the animal might just take off.

So we watched. The weather station in the pasture was reporting -34C. This animal  could not be more than a year old and seemed to be at least a month early heading along the ancient migration route moose take from the Rockies to the sloughs of Saskatchewan, where they enjoy the new willow shoots offered by spring.

Then the moose sat down by the trees, with its face turned toward the setting sun. That this magnificent creature would choose to settle here for the night felt like an honour. We hoped it was healthy, that it was ok, and that it would continue on.

The next morning a neighbour to the east of us texted a video of, what appeared to be, the same the moose. It was running past their treed yard, toward the coulee—the coulee, in one form or another, that could be followed all the way to Saskatchewan.

This moose seemed to be on a mission. It could take care of itself. Although it is just one creature, it is connected to those that went before it, treading the same route, perhaps facing similar challenges.

Andrew and Simon Peter were invited on a journey that would take them far from where they began. And Abraham ran to host the angels, as if they were weary travellers, yet it was he and Sara who were about to embark on a journey.

And though we are not travelling, this year, especially, we are pilgrims. During Lent we are called to return to our source. Though the path is familiar, it is never the same way twice. It is part of an ancient journey—a route followed by many who have gone before us and, we hope, those who follow after.

The moose has all it needs for its journey. So do we.

 For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.  Psalm 95:7

- Alison Goodwin

                                                    Abraham Entertaining the Angels 1656

                                                            Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)