The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a book I have thoroughly enjoyed tracing the walk of Harold from Kingsbridge in South Devon to Berwick at the Scottish border. Harold, who is a quiet unassuming man who has retired and has his regular routine, receives a letter from an old friend and work colleague whom he has not seen for twenty years. She is terminally ill in a hospice run by nuns in Berwick. He goes to the postbox in order to post a letter to her but realizes how inadequate a response this is and continues walking the 627 miles. It’s a story of how he comes alive through his various encounters and how he helps others to come alive too. I am using it as an example of living in the present moment, a theme of my sermon tomorrow.
Another example of this is a project Cindy Chang is involved with, a public art project involving a huge blackboard with the words Before I die … I want to…with an invitation to the community to fill in what they would like to do. The Youtube clip is worth a look www.ted.com/…/candy_chang_before_i_die_i_want… She does this project following the death of someone who was like a mother to her… Preparing for death is one of the most empowering things that you can do. Thinking about death clarifies life. |