From Scotland to Home: Bridging Pilgrimage Experiences with Rev. Alexa Eisenbarth

“One pilgrim makes a zealot, two pilgrims makes a pilgrimage” - Ted LassoRev. Alexa Eisenbarth, Associate Pastor of First Olympia UMC joins us today to talk about how her own personal pilgrimage to Scotland translated to her walking with her fellow pilgrims in her home of Olympia, WA and the importance of not going it alone. What do we learn when we go out walking long distances with others? And what can we learn from pilgrimage about the importance of rhythm, care, and rest both individually and in community? We talk about the softening that happens in true community, trees, and how our homes are just as sacred as the places we journey to. Alexa invited us into a ton of imaginative thinking and we know y’all will enjoy hearing this one!Cool stuff we mentioned this episode (or meant to anyways): Alexa’s article The Posture of Trees: A Picture of Church Leadership First Olympia UMCSaio JourneysGilead ChicagoEnneagram 1: The ReformerQuestions Alexa’s Group Processed while on pilgrimage that you may want to sit with in this post election time period : (from the Parish Collective)What do you notice?What do you avoid?What’s missing?What delights you?Chapters00:00 Introduction to Pilgrimage and Community Engagement04:38 The Experience of Pilgrimage in Scotland10:17 The Spiritual and Emotional Aspects of Group Pilgrimage16:33 The Enneagram Perspective on Pilgrimage21:11 Bridging Experiences: From Scotland to Local Community26:56 Creating Neighborhood Pilgrimages and Collective Reflection36:01 The Power of Civic Life38:46 Understanding Our Neighborhoods39:58 Defining Neighborliness42:37 The Role of Community in Education47:21 The Significance of Trees54:05 Navigating Political Challenges59:58 A Call to Action