July 18, 2025 • 16 mins
Have you ever considered the difference between being a tourist and being a pilgrim? Justin Strickland discovered this distinction firsthand during his transformative journey to Ghana and the Anglican Diocese of Cape Coast, the companion diocese of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. His story reveals how true pilgrimage reshapes our understanding of presence, relationship, and spiritual growth.
In this episode, Melissa and Justin have a conversation about Justin's recent pilgrimage and how it mirrors the tension of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42 - the challenge of balancing doing with being. While Martha is busy attending to the practical needs of preparing for Jesus, Mary chooses to sit at his feet, listening to his teachings. Through visits to slave trade sites and immersion in Cape Coast's vibrant Anglican worship, Justin discovered the power of stepping away from constant activity to truly listen and connect.
The journey began as historical exploration but blossomed into something far more meaningful - genuine relationships that continue to flourish across oceans. "We're such a doing people that we get so caught up in the doing that we forget when those holy moments to stop doing are," he reflects. His story challenges us all to recognize when we need to be Martha (doing) and when we need to be Mary (being) - finding those sacred moments where stopping to listen transforms not just our experience but our very selves. Listen in for the full conversation.
Read For Faith, the companion devotional.
Justin Strickland is a lifelong Christian who was raised in the Pentecostal tradition but found his spiritual home in The Episcopal Church. He is an active member of the Cathedral of St. Philip and a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the life of the church. Recently, Justin deepened his faith journey by participating in a pilgrimage to Ghana. His life reflects a commitment to justice, community, and faithful witness.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Justin Strickland (00:00):
We're such a doing people that we get so
caught up in the doing that weforget when those holy moments
to stop doing are.
And so what I really appreciateabout this is Jesus recognized
that Mary was taking kind of aholy moment of her own to stop
and to be present and to learnand to open her heart.
(00:20):
And that's really kind of whereI'm at with pilgrimage even is
it was a holy moment to stop andto listen and learn.
Melissa (00:40):
Welcome to For People with Bishop Rob Wright.
I'm Melissa Rau, your host, andthis is a conversation inspired
by For Faith, a weekly devotionsent out every Friday.
You can find a link to thisweek's For Faith and a link to
subscribe in the episode'sdescription.
Now, over the course of July,bishop Wright is focusing on
continuing education and we havespecial guests from the Diocese
(01:02):
of Atlanta doing our fourthfaith devotion and having these
conversations with us, and soour guest today is Justin
Strickland, and Justin is aparishioner at the Cathedral of
St.
Philip in Atlanta.
Welcome, justin.
Justin Strickland (01:18):
Hey, Melissa, thank you.
Melissa (01:20):
You bet Well, okay.
So you wrote based on yourexperience when you traveled to
the Diocese of Cape Coast onpilgrimage in Ghana.
You named your reflection thepresence and relationship and
the gifts of pilgrimage Friends.
I'd highly recommend readingthis devotion.
It's so, so well-crafted, it'sbeautiful.
(01:42):
So please take your time tolook up the devotion.
But, Justin, would you justsummarize your overall
experience and what really hityou?
Justin Strickland (01:51):
Yeah, you know.
So the pilgrimage to Ghana wasa deeply spiritual experience.
The first few days we werethere were focused really
heavily on touring the historyof the slave trade sites, and
the latter part of thepilgrimage was really focused on
being in relationship andmeeting the people in the
diocese of Cape Coast and goingto church with them and
(02:12):
experiencing their style ofworship and really participating
, and so the words that justkept rising in my heart was
relationship.
Out of that pilgrimage and youknow, there were some really
deeply heavy historical momentswhere the weight of history just
kind of knocks you in the face.
And then there was also a lotof moments of joy and
(02:35):
spontaneous prayer and sharingmeals together and experiencing
another culture and seeing faiththrough someone else's eyes.
Melissa (02:43):
Had you ever been on a pilgrimage before?
Justin Strickland (02:46):
I had not.
This was my first journey withpilgrimage.
I'm not really sure that I knewwhat pilgrimage was before this
, but yeah, it's a verydifferent experience than
tourism.
So it was because you're therefor a purpose and I think for me
.
I'm not sure that the wordrelationship was on my heart
(03:07):
until I got there and I was likewhat is the purpose of
pilgrimage?
And for me the purpose ofpilgrimage was sort of building
a relationship with our brothersand sisters in the Diocese of
Cape Coast and getting toexperience the Anglican
communion and all of its beautyin a different place.
Melissa (03:25):
You know you talked about tourism.
I heard a great quote as I waspreparing to go on a pilgrimage
this past time.
It goes something like this atourist passes through a place,
whereas a place passes through apilgrim.
Justin Strickland (03:40):
Absolutely.
And then it stays on your heartand so I've gotten some
relationships with people thatI've developed there that I'm
still in kind of regular prayerand contact with, and so it was
just a really cool experience.
I was very happy and then justthe relationship that I got with
the 20 some odd other pilgrimsfrom the diocese who went.
So these are friendships thatwill last a lifetime.
Melissa (04:01):
Yeah Well, I love the fact that you talk's feet and
Martha is doing, doing, doing,she's going, going, going.
A lot of people don't realizetoo that the word that describes
(04:31):
what Martha is doing isministry actually.
So she was doing not just doingjust for doing sake, but was
doing active ministry.
Jesus recognized that and yetstill highlighted the fact that
Mary chose to sit and to be, andyou highlighted being versus
(04:53):
doing in your devotion.
What would you have to say moreabout that?
Justin Strickland (04:57):
You know, I think that it's really, you know
, Martha is doing what so manyof us do she's preparing, she's
serving, she's managing themoment.
And there's kind of a holinessto that busyness when you're
serving other people.
But there are times in lifewhen I think that we can get so
caught up in the doing that weget distracted, and we get so
(05:19):
distracted that we miss thepresence of the moment and the
learning opportunities that arein front of us.
And so, you know, I think inthis chapter in the gospel, you
know, it's not that we want tofault Mary for doing those
things, but we want to recognizewhat Martha did by choosing to
(05:40):
be present in that moment and tosit at Jesus's feet and to
recognize the weight of themoment and to share an
experience with him.
And so I think sometimes peopleget so caught up in the doing
for someone that they get, theymiss the opportunity to actually
be present with them.
Melissa (05:58):
Right.
I think people overlook thefact that it wasn't so much
anybody admonishing Martha, butit was that Martha was
admonishing Mary for being.
Justin Strickland (06:09):
Yes.
Melissa (06:10):
Right, and so he said no, no, no, actually she's got,
she's, she's doing somethingreally important Right.
And so I'm curious, based uponyour, your experience with the
pilgrimage, um, um, how has thatshaped you post-pilgrimage?
Where have you been taking thetime to really reflect and lean
(06:32):
into relationship with I thinkyou were saying presence over
performance?
How has that kind of helped youmaybe live differently?
Justin Strickland (06:43):
You know, I think it's definitely made me
become a better listenerno-transcript perspective.
(07:16):
So I think it's an experiencethat definitely changed me and
it you know I spent a lot oftime with our brothers and
sisters in the Diocese of CapeCoast and you know they're aware
of all the talk lately about.
You know, it's almost like welive in a moment where we want
to revise history, sometimes inthis country, and they're deeply
aware of that, and so it's likelistening to history from their
(07:39):
perspective was a veryspiritual gift for me, I think.
Melissa (07:44):
Oh, wow.
Are you able to share some ofthat with us?
Like you know some of theirperspective.
Justin Strickland (07:49):
Yeah, you know they're really aware of
critical race theory and howthere are a lot of initiatives
right now to stop diversity,equity and inclusion in the
United States, and you knowthat's something that's, I think
, probably hurtful for thembecause there's a lot of real
work that needs to be done.
You know, it's not like theslave trade ended and everything
(08:11):
got 100% better.
We still have a lot of work todo on racial reconciliation and,
you know, in the Diocese ofCape Coast they're very aware of
that, and so it was justsomething to listen to, and it
was more of a moment for me tolisten to them than to speak,
and that's something that's hardfor me is I'm usually a speaker
.
I'm not naturally a goodlistener.
Melissa (08:53):
Yeah, I'm sure that experience is very profound.
I don't mean to compare andcontrast.
I'm struck by the fact that thefolks in the Diocese of Cape
Coast, they have a story that isoften untold, because we in
America, I think, focus on thetragedy of taking people from
(09:15):
their native lands and enslavingthem for our gain in America,
and now they're Americans andforced upon them, and yet we
rarely talk about the villagesfrom which folks were actually
taken and the hole or the gapinghole that left, I think in the
(09:42):
Diocese of Cape Coast.
Justin Strickland (09:44):
Right.
Melissa (09:45):
Were you able to talk or learn about that Cape Coast?
Justin Strickland (09:50):
pilgrims on our pilgrimage who were from
African descent, and so for themthis was kind of like a
homecoming right.
And just to be a witness tothat homecoming and to get to be
present and watch people returnto set foot on their native
land for the first time, to goto the last bath, which is now
(10:11):
kind of being reached out as thebath of return, and to touch
the water for the first time inthe Diocese of Cape Coast, and
how deeply moving and spiritualit is for our brothers and
sisters who are returning totheir home for the first time,
who are returning to their homefor the first time, and then to
hear the stories in Cape Coaston the lasting effects of the
(10:32):
slave trade and slavery for them, and yet to see how much joy
there is and the strength andthe resilience in the people
there.
It was something that you trulyhave to experience it firsthand
to really understand.
But it was an experience that Ithink will shape the rest of my
faith journey.
Melissa (10:51):
I love that.
So was there anythingsurprising?
You know you talk about thepower of moments.
Actually, that's the bookthat's a book name the Power of
Moments.
I'm a big fan of that book.
But being able to be presentand having the wherewithal to be
present like, okay, I'mwitnessing something right now,
Was there something that jumpedout at you or surprised you?
Justin Strickland (11:16):
You know I grew up Pentecostal and so I
think one of the things thatreally surprised me was how
charismatic and Pentecostalworship can be in other parts of
the Anglican communion.
And Pentecostal worship can bein other parts of the Anglican
communion and, I think, theservice in Cape Coast on Sunday.
I went to Christ ChurchCathedral and I went to church
with them on Sunday and it wasso Pentecostal and joyful and
(11:37):
there was so much dancing andshouting and singing and I think
I was surprised how at home Ifelt, and so it was a really
cool experience for me to get toshare that with them, because
it felt like on some level I wasreturning to my spiritual roots
in the diocese of Cape Coastand I don't think I expected it
to be a homecoming for me.
Melissa (11:59):
So, justin, I'm struck by the fact that pilgrimages are
often mountaintop experiencesand I'm also wondering how we
might live day to day or operatekind of like from a place of
pilgrimage, that every day is apilgrimage, because we're
showing up to something throughrelationship with either a
(12:20):
people or a place, and I'mcurious if you have any insight
into how we might do that.
Justin Strickland (12:26):
You know, for me this pilgrimage wasn't just
a one-time experience.
I mean, I really got arelationship out of it and so
for me, I'm in fairly regularcontact with the dean at Christ
Church Cathedral and ArchdeaconTheo, who is my buddy, and you
know I'm in regular prayer withthem.
I listen to their needs and youknow when I'm saying my prayers
(12:48):
.
Now these are people that I'mpraying for, who I've met.
I've held their hands, I'veshared a meal with them and as I
continue the work of pilgrimageand I begin to tell the story
of that relationship at theCathedral of St Philip, I'm
creating kind of a companionconnection between our parishes,
creating kind of a companionconnection between our parishes.
(13:10):
So I'm really thinking abouthow can we have a continuing
relationship so that it wasn'tjust a one-time mountaintop
experience.
It really develops into anopportunity to tell the story of
their parish to our parish andfor our parish to tell our story
to theirs and to create a truelink across the ocean and the
(13:30):
Anglican communion and to havethe real fruit of pilgrimage
truly be a relationship.
Melissa (13:37):
Wow, that's really great.
So what's next then?
What do you see maybe comingout of that?
Justin Strickland (13:42):
Well, on August 10th I'm going to be
doing a presentation at thecathedral where I'm going to be
doing a presentation at thecathedral where I, you know, I'm
presenting the story of CapeCoast to our cathedral community
for the first time, and so I'mreally looking forward to that.
And, you know, I think there'llbe a lot of opportunities to
continue to share stories in thefuture and to pray and to
(14:05):
prayerfully consider how we canhelp meet some of the needs in
the diocese of Cape Coast.
Melissa (14:09):
That's pretty awesome.
So do you know when the Dioceseis doing another pilgrimage?
Is it an annual thing that?
Justin Strickland (14:15):
Atlanta does.
It is an annual thing and Ihighly encourage you, if you
even remotely think it should be, for you submit an application,
apply and go, because it willchange your life.
Melissa (14:25):
Justin, I am grateful for you and for the time that
you've taken to write yourdevotion as it pertains to
Martha and Mary.
Any last insight regardingMartha and or Mary, you know.
Justin Strickland (14:36):
I think that there are times in life where we
need to be Martha and there aretimes in life when we need to
be Mary, and I think it's justwe're such a doing people that
we get so caught up in the doingthat we forget when those holy
moments to stop doing are.
And so what I really appreciateabout this is Jesus recognized
(14:58):
that Mary was taking kind of aholy moment of her own to stop
and to be present and to learnand to open her heart and to
learn and to open her heart.
And so I think that's reallykind of where I'm at with
pilgrimage even is it was a holymoment to stop doing and to
listen and learn and all thefruits of the Spirit that you
(15:20):
get from that the love, the joy,the relationship, the
connection.
And if I had just been focusedon doing and not listening on
the pilgrimage, I would havemissed some of those moments.
Melissa (15:32):
Justin, thank you so much for your wisdom and
listeners.
We're grateful to you fortuning in to For People.
You can follow us on Instagramand Facebook at Bishop Rob
Wright, or by visitingwwwforpeople.
digital.
Please subscribe, leave areview and we'll be back with
you next week.
We're such a doing people that we get so
caught up in the doing that weforget when those holy moments
to stop doing are.
And so what I really appreciateabout this is Jesus recognized
that Mary was taking kind of aholy moment of her own to stop
and to be present and to learnand to open her heart.
(00:20):
And that's really kind of whereI'm at with pilgrimage even is
it was a holy moment to stop andto listen and learn.
Melissa (00:40):
Welcome to For People with Bishop Rob Wright.
I'm Melissa Rau, your host, andthis is a conversation inspired
by For Faith, a weekly devotionsent out every Friday.
You can find a link to thisweek's For Faith and a link to
subscribe in the episode'sdescription.
Now, over the course of July,bishop Wright is focusing on
continuing education and we havespecial guests from the Diocese
(01:02):
of Atlanta doing our fourthfaith devotion and having these
conversations with us, and soour guest today is Justin
Strickland, and Justin is aparishioner at the Cathedral of
St.
Philip in Atlanta.
Welcome, justin.
Justin Strickland (01:18):
Hey, Melissa, thank you.
Melissa (01:20):
You bet Well, okay.
So you wrote based on yourexperience when you traveled to
the Diocese of Cape Coast onpilgrimage in Ghana.
You named your reflection thepresence and relationship and
the gifts of pilgrimage Friends.
I'd highly recommend readingthis devotion.
It's so, so well-crafted, it'sbeautiful.
(01:42):
So please take your time tolook up the devotion.
But, Justin, would you justsummarize your overall
experience and what really hityou?
Justin Strickland (01:51):
Yeah, you know.
So the pilgrimage to Ghana wasa deeply spiritual experience.
The first few days we werethere were focused really
heavily on touring the historyof the slave trade sites, and
the latter part of thepilgrimage was really focused on
being in relationship andmeeting the people in the
diocese of Cape Coast and goingto church with them and
(02:12):
experiencing their style ofworship and really participating
, and so the words that justkept rising in my heart was
relationship.
Out of that pilgrimage and youknow, there were some really
deeply heavy historical momentswhere the weight of history just
kind of knocks you in the face.
And then there was also a lotof moments of joy and
(02:35):
spontaneous prayer and sharingmeals together and experiencing
another culture and seeing faiththrough someone else's eyes.
Melissa (02:43):
Had you ever been on a pilgrimage before?
Justin Strickland (02:46):
I had not.
This was my first journey withpilgrimage.
I'm not really sure that I knewwhat pilgrimage was before this
, but yeah, it's a verydifferent experience than
tourism.
So it was because you're therefor a purpose and I think for me
.
I'm not sure that the wordrelationship was on my heart
(03:07):
until I got there and I was likewhat is the purpose of
pilgrimage?
And for me the purpose ofpilgrimage was sort of building
a relationship with our brothersand sisters in the Diocese of
Cape Coast and getting toexperience the Anglican
communion and all of its beautyin a different place.
Melissa (03:25):
You know you talked about tourism.
I heard a great quote as I waspreparing to go on a pilgrimage
this past time.
It goes something like this atourist passes through a place,
whereas a place passes through apilgrim.
Justin Strickland (03:40):
Absolutely.
And then it stays on your heartand so I've gotten some
relationships with people thatI've developed there that I'm
still in kind of regular prayerand contact with, and so it was
just a really cool experience.
I was very happy and then justthe relationship that I got with
the 20 some odd other pilgrimsfrom the diocese who went.
So these are friendships thatwill last a lifetime.
Melissa (04:01):
Yeah Well, I love the fact that you talk's feet and
Martha is doing, doing, doing,she's going, going, going.
A lot of people don't realizetoo that the word that describes
(04:31):
what Martha is doing isministry actually.
So she was doing not just doingjust for doing sake, but was
doing active ministry.
Jesus recognized that and yetstill highlighted the fact that
Mary chose to sit and to be, andyou highlighted being versus
(04:53):
doing in your devotion.
What would you have to say moreabout that?
Justin Strickland (04:57):
You know, I think that it's really, you know
, Martha is doing what so manyof us do she's preparing, she's
serving, she's managing themoment.
And there's kind of a holinessto that busyness when you're
serving other people.
But there are times in lifewhen I think that we can get so
caught up in the doing that weget distracted, and we get so
(05:19):
distracted that we miss thepresence of the moment and the
learning opportunities that arein front of us.
And so, you know, I think inthis chapter in the gospel, you
know, it's not that we want tofault Mary for doing those
things, but we want to recognizewhat Martha did by choosing to
(05:40):
be present in that moment and tosit at Jesus's feet and to
recognize the weight of themoment and to share an
experience with him.
And so I think sometimes peopleget so caught up in the doing
for someone that they get, theymiss the opportunity to actually
be present with them.
Melissa (05:58):
Right.
I think people overlook thefact that it wasn't so much
anybody admonishing Martha, butit was that Martha was
admonishing Mary for being.
Justin Strickland (06:09):
Yes.
Melissa (06:10):
Right, and so he said no, no, no, actually she's got,
she's, she's doing somethingreally important Right.
And so I'm curious, based uponyour, your experience with the
pilgrimage, um, um, how has thatshaped you post-pilgrimage?
Where have you been taking thetime to really reflect and lean
(06:32):
into relationship with I thinkyou were saying presence over
performance?
How has that kind of helped youmaybe live differently?
Justin Strickland (06:43):
You know, I think it's definitely made me
become a better listenerno-transcript perspective.
(07:16):
So I think it's an experiencethat definitely changed me and
it you know I spent a lot oftime with our brothers and
sisters in the Diocese of CapeCoast and you know they're aware
of all the talk lately about.
You know, it's almost like welive in a moment where we want
to revise history, sometimes inthis country, and they're deeply
aware of that, and so it's likelistening to history from their
(07:39):
perspective was a veryspiritual gift for me, I think.
Melissa (07:44):
Oh, wow.
Are you able to share some ofthat with us?
Like you know some of theirperspective.
Justin Strickland (07:49):
Yeah, you know they're really aware of
critical race theory and howthere are a lot of initiatives
right now to stop diversity,equity and inclusion in the
United States, and you knowthat's something that's, I think
, probably hurtful for thembecause there's a lot of real
work that needs to be done.
You know, it's not like theslave trade ended and everything
(08:11):
got 100% better.
We still have a lot of work todo on racial reconciliation and,
you know, in the Diocese ofCape Coast they're very aware of
that, and so it was justsomething to listen to, and it
was more of a moment for me tolisten to them than to speak,
and that's something that's hardfor me is I'm usually a speaker
.
I'm not naturally a goodlistener.
Melissa (08:53):
Yeah, I'm sure that experience is very profound.
I don't mean to compare andcontrast.
I'm struck by the fact that thefolks in the Diocese of Cape
Coast, they have a story that isoften untold, because we in
America, I think, focus on thetragedy of taking people from
(09:15):
their native lands and enslavingthem for our gain in America,
and now they're Americans andforced upon them, and yet we
rarely talk about the villagesfrom which folks were actually
taken and the hole or the gapinghole that left, I think in the
(09:42):
Diocese of Cape Coast.
Justin Strickland (09:44):
Right.
Melissa (09:45):
Were you able to talk or learn about that Cape Coast?
Justin Strickland (09:50):
pilgrims on our pilgrimage who were from
African descent, and so for themthis was kind of like a
homecoming right.
And just to be a witness tothat homecoming and to get to be
present and watch people returnto set foot on their native
land for the first time, to goto the last bath, which is now
(10:11):
kind of being reached out as thebath of return, and to touch
the water for the first time inthe Diocese of Cape Coast, and
how deeply moving and spiritualit is for our brothers and
sisters who are returning totheir home for the first time,
who are returning to their homefor the first time, and then to
hear the stories in Cape Coaston the lasting effects of the
(10:32):
slave trade and slavery for them, and yet to see how much joy
there is and the strength andthe resilience in the people
there.
It was something that you trulyhave to experience it firsthand
to really understand.
But it was an experience that Ithink will shape the rest of my
faith journey.
Melissa (10:51):
I love that.
So was there anythingsurprising?
You know you talk about thepower of moments.
Actually, that's the bookthat's a book name the Power of
Moments.
I'm a big fan of that book.
But being able to be presentand having the wherewithal to be
present like, okay, I'mwitnessing something right now,
Was there something that jumpedout at you or surprised you?
Justin Strickland (11:16):
You know I grew up Pentecostal and so I
think one of the things thatreally surprised me was how
charismatic and Pentecostalworship can be in other parts of
the Anglican communion.
And Pentecostal worship can bein other parts of the Anglican
communion and, I think, theservice in Cape Coast on Sunday.
I went to Christ ChurchCathedral and I went to church
with them on Sunday and it wasso Pentecostal and joyful and
(11:37):
there was so much dancing andshouting and singing and I think
I was surprised how at home Ifelt, and so it was a really
cool experience for me to get toshare that with them, because
it felt like on some level I wasreturning to my spiritual roots
in the diocese of Cape Coastand I don't think I expected it
to be a homecoming for me.
Melissa (11:59):
So, justin, I'm struck by the fact that pilgrimages are
often mountaintop experiencesand I'm also wondering how we
might live day to day or operatekind of like from a place of
pilgrimage, that every day is apilgrimage, because we're
showing up to something throughrelationship with either a
(12:20):
people or a place, and I'mcurious if you have any insight
into how we might do that.
Justin Strickland (12:26):
You know, for me this pilgrimage wasn't just
a one-time experience.
I mean, I really got arelationship out of it and so
for me, I'm in fairly regularcontact with the dean at Christ
Church Cathedral and ArchdeaconTheo, who is my buddy, and you
know I'm in regular prayer withthem.
I listen to their needs and youknow when I'm saying my prayers
(12:48):
.
Now these are people that I'mpraying for, who I've met.
I've held their hands, I'veshared a meal with them and as I
continue the work of pilgrimageand I begin to tell the story
of that relationship at theCathedral of St Philip, I'm
creating kind of a companionconnection between our parishes,
creating kind of a companionconnection between our parishes.
(13:10):
So I'm really thinking abouthow can we have a continuing
relationship so that it wasn'tjust a one-time mountaintop
experience.
It really develops into anopportunity to tell the story of
their parish to our parish andfor our parish to tell our story
to theirs and to create a truelink across the ocean and the
(13:30):
Anglican communion and to havethe real fruit of pilgrimage
truly be a relationship.
Melissa (13:37):
Wow, that's really great.
So what's next then?
What do you see maybe comingout of that?
Justin Strickland (13:42):
Well, on August 10th I'm going to be
doing a presentation at thecathedral where I'm going to be
doing a presentation at thecathedral where I, you know, I'm
presenting the story of CapeCoast to our cathedral community
for the first time, and so I'mreally looking forward to that.
And, you know, I think there'llbe a lot of opportunities to
continue to share stories in thefuture and to pray and to
(14:05):
prayerfully consider how we canhelp meet some of the needs in
the diocese of Cape Coast.
Melissa (14:09):
That's pretty awesome.
So do you know when the Dioceseis doing another pilgrimage?
Is it an annual thing that?
Justin Strickland (14:15):
Atlanta does.
It is an annual thing and Ihighly encourage you, if you
even remotely think it should be, for you submit an application,
apply and go, because it willchange your life.
Melissa (14:25):
Justin, I am grateful for you and for the time that
you've taken to write yourdevotion as it pertains to
Martha and Mary.
Any last insight regardingMartha and or Mary, you know.
Justin Strickland (14:36):
I think that there are times in life where we
need to be Martha and there aretimes in life when we need to
be Mary, and I think it's justwe're such a doing people that
we get so caught up in the doingthat we forget when those holy
moments to stop doing are.
And so what I really appreciateabout this is Jesus recognized
(14:58):
that Mary was taking kind of aholy moment of her own to stop
and to be present and to learnand to open her heart and to
learn and to open her heart.
And so I think that's reallykind of where I'm at with
pilgrimage even is it was a holymoment to stop doing and to
listen and learn and all thefruits of the Spirit that you
(15:20):
get from that the love, the joy,the relationship, the
connection.
And if I had just been focusedon doing and not listening on
the pilgrimage, I would havemissed some of those moments.
Melissa (15:32):
Justin, thank you so much for your wisdom and
listeners.
We're grateful to you fortuning in to For People.
You can follow us on Instagramand Facebook at Bishop Rob
Wright, or by visitingwwwforpeople.
digital.
Please subscribe, leave areview and we'll be back with
you next week.
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