We're doing what?!

Our pilgrimage has required a fair amount of planning and, for better and worse, I've been the chief planner. I've been trying not to get carried away, but it's hard. There is so much to see and do! I have visions of us landing in Dublin, getting our rental car, bolting half awake south to Glendalough to see the monastery and lakes, and then west to visit the Rock of Cashel before we move on to the west coast where we drive the Ring of Kerry, do a loop of the Dingle Peninsula and head north to the Cliffs of Moher, through the Burren, and then onto Galway, where we will take a ferry to the Aran Islands, one of the last outposts of Irish speakers. Then up through Connemara to Croagh Patrick, which we will climb, before motoring south to the Marian Shrine at Knock and then to the Famine Museum in Strokestown and then back toward Dublin, visiting the ancient ruins in the Valley of the Boyne on the way. In Dublin, we will go to the zoo (Luke's choice) tour Trinity College, which contains the Book of Kells, attend Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and see some relatives before catching our plane to Edinburgh. We'll throw in a few visits to pubs, other relatives, and relatives in cemeteries.

All in about a week! You probably now understand why John and Luke are looking the way they do in the photo. It's an insane plan. Because while some planning is good and necessary, too much isn't. And it certainly isn't in keeping with the spirit of a pilgrimage.

We can't see and do everything we'd like; we have to pick and choose among very good choices. Even more importantly, we have to remain open to the unplanned opportunities that arise in a day. This is true of traveling and it's true of life, too.

It so tempting for me to think I'm in total control and that I know best. But we are co-creators with God of our lives and our world and things go better when we pay attention to God's nudges and whispers. Hopefully, one of them will be, "Drive the Ring of Kerry," 'cause I really want to see it ;)