Psalm 122 is about pilgrimage—a journey to a place of religious importance. This pilgrimage is an opportunity to join others and travel together to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple.

Imagine that you, your family, and some friends decide to go to Jerusalem. What a joy to savor! Your anticipation grows as plans develop for this journey. Finally, the day comes. You are on your way! You feel a growing sense of joy as you meet others traveling to the Temple—friends, acquaintances, and strangers.

As you journey, you anticipate worshiping in the Temple with those who share faith in God. You remember from previous pilgrimages the sound of the shofar, the quietness as the rabbi prays, the rustling of papyrus as the scroll is unrolled, and the rabbi’s reading the words for the day. The service of worship and the joy of being together promise to make this a memorable time.

Could it be that pilgrimage is a descriptive word for our lives? Must “pilgrimage” always be limited to a particular time and destination? Aren’t we—who are prone to be creatures of habit—also people who seek and find God in many places, praise God in many situations, and serve God in many ways?

As you move through today, make note of ways that today has felt like a pilgrimage. Where did you go? Whom did you see? How did you interact? How did you worship God? Where were the “bumps in the road”? What have you learned about yourself, others, and God from this experience?