Today’s post is a video reflection of the final leg of my European pilgrimage. There were many unexpected turns on this trip — from contracting Covid to getting caught in a train strike — and the last days of the journey were no exception.

Seems as if the spirit had a thing or two to teach me about switchbacks and U-turns. Listen in as I share how the labyrinth (you can read about my experience walking the Chartres labyrinth HERE) and a road in Norway were similar and yet very, very different.

And still the way leads home.

It is good to be back.

A BEAUTIFUL YEAR is COMING!

Look what greeted me in my mail when I arrived home: a readers’ advance copy of A Beautiful Year — and it is a truly beautiful book. I’m excited about how much creative effort and real passion the publishing team is putting into this project.

We’ve still got work to do with final edits and revisions as well as some more artwork details to be added.

You can preorder HERE. There are several choices for sellers who will deliver to you on the day of publication in the fall.

INSPIRATION

You idiot, is what you sayto the driver five cars ahead of youon the two-lane road that windsthrough the river canyon.There is no passing lane,and you feel the crushof the minutes as they rub against each otherwhile the white SUV five cars aheaddoes not pull overin the wide spot on the roadwhere all conscientious slow drivers knowto pull over to let the other drivers pass.Idiot, you grumble, and missany beauty outside the window—red rock cliffs and diamonding streams—focused as you are on the speedometer,the brake. Once it was you,a girl of fifteen, who drove so cautiouslythe windy roads to churchon a Sunday morning, that first daywith your driver’s permit.And who was it in the long linebehind you who called the policeto report a drunk driver?When the police pulled you over,not one but two squad carswith blaring red and blue lights,you didn’t cry when the officers laughed—there was warmth in their reliefto find that you were not drunk, but young.No, you cried after they walked away,cried all the way to mass.Bless them, the irate ones,the ones who fume in the back,the ones who think furious thoughts.That’s right. Bless yourself,you, the livid one who even nowis hurling names at the other travelerson the same paved path.Settle in. Sixteen miles under the speed limitwill give you time to think abouthow we’re all travelingthe same winding roadno matter which route we take—all of us pilgrims journeying towarda generous, elusive grace.

— Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, “Traveling the Same Road”

Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer will be joining us this coming January at the Southern Lights Conference on Saint Simons Island, GA. Click here for information and registration: Southern Lights Conference.

Cottage readers can receive at 15% discount on in-person and/or virtual registrations now until July 7.

Use the discount code: Cot26Sub when you register.

HAPPY JUNETEENTH, EVERYONE! ⛓️‍💥🎉

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