Pilgrimage in the Midst of Pandemic - Kendal Chang

I reflected on the Pilgrimage in the Midst of Pandemic, and I realized how different the idea of a pilgrimage became when the world shut down. Going on journeys was disrupted and altered when the pandemic hit in 2020. A pilgrimage is usually a physical journey, but the idea of “pilgrimage” had to shift. People were forced to look inward instead of outward. The pandemic created a sense of stillness. Without the typical distractions or routines, many had to face questions they often avoided. Sometimes, the journey is an emotional and spiritual one when life becomes uncertain. This connects to how meaning is created through the challenges we experience while on a journey.

What stuck with me the most was the description of this unexpected shift. When we can’t move forward, we have no choice but to move inward. Another part that stood out to me was the idea that a pilgrimage is about transformation. Even though people were stuck at home, there was still room for meaning-making and personal growth. I know personally, I was able to look deeper into myself and find value during this difficult time where life was put on pause. This made me wonder if stillness can be just as meaningful as movement when it comes to personal growth. According to Dr. Redick, journeys do not always have to have movement. Sometimes being still is part of the process, which is a meaningful lesson the pandemic taught us.

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