Holy Companions on the Journey
Finding The Sacred Beyond Familiar Places

By the Rev. Cornelia Eaton

Over the years, pilgrimages in Diné Bikéyah have been, and still are, an integral part of our ministry. My first youth ministry pilgrimage was to San Francisco, where I served people experiencing homelessness at a food pantry. Our group camped on the rooftop of the building where daily meals were served. Every morning, we were greeted by mysterious fog and mist that settled among us. I recognized the presence of the Diyin Dine’é, the Holy People, as an offering of hózhó, peace and well-being, that we would grow in abundance with the gifts given to us by the divine. This awareness opened my eyes to the fact that God was bigger and beyond the four sacred mountains. The Diyin Dine’é are spiritual companions wherever we go.

Pilgrimages to our land, too, are beautiful. The land among the four sacred mountains, the people, and the divine elements all teach us lessons about who we are and how we are invited to grow in community. The Diyin Dine’é bring clarity to our path and to our purpose in life and ministry. These experiences nourish our relationships and replenish our souls with Diyin God.

This is the beauty of transformation. It may begin with something outside of us, but it is fulfilled through holy connections within. Those divine connections help us in our ministry. We are changed through gratitude by the power of God’s love and grace. Our pilgrimages equip us to walk in harmony, balance, and peace in the world, where together, in communion, we can make a difference.

I am reminded that our holy brother Jesus led his followers of The Way throughout Israel, teaching that we are all a gift, a light in this world, through ajooba, compassion, in our hearts. We come to know God’s love as we spread the Good News. The Light of the World shined through his relationships. Jesus held k’é, all my relations, near his heart. This is the key to how belonging and relationships are formed: through caring for one another and for God’s creation, which sustains us.

In this time of transition, let us remember to offer our thanksgiving and blessings for the relationships God has given us, whether past, present, or yet to come. We welcome you. We are invited by the Holy Spirit to approach this change of season with gratitude as we continue to listen to one another through the guidance of the Diyin Creator Spirit. May we recognize the presence of holy blessings in the changing seasons, from growing to harvesting.

Happiness, harmony, and balance be with you.