GoHealth Podcast

S8 Ep6: Trystan Owain Hughes - Finding hope through pilgrimage and suffering

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In this deeply moving conversation, Trystan Owain Hughes shares his journey of undertaking a 140-mile pilgrimage across North Wales while living with chronic pain, and the unexpected second pilgrimage that followed when his back injury worsened dramatically. Drawing from his latest book "To Hell's Mouth and Back: Pilgrimage, Suffering, and Hope," Trystan explores how vulnerability in leadership, finding meaning in suffering, and noticing "God winks" in everyday moments can transform our understanding of healing and hope. 

Key Topics Discussed

The Physical Pilgrimage

  • The Pilgrim's Way: 140 miles across North Wales to Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli)
  • Undertaken eight years after major back surgery (titanium bolt between vertebrae)
  • Challenges included knee injury, getting lost, bad weather, and ongoing chronic pain
  • Five elements that define pilgrimage: suffering, wonder of nature, friendship, dependence on God and others, and signs from God
    • The Second Pilgrimage: Recovery

    • Extreme back pain returned the day after completing the walk
    • Spent a month largely confined to a red sofa
    • Explores the "pilgrimage mindset" - finding the same sources of hope whether on a 140-mile walk or a 30-yard walk to a lake
    • Viktor Frankl's insight: suffering expands to fill whatever space we're in, regardless of size
      • Goldfinch Moments: Noticing God's Presence

      • The goldfinch as a traditional Christian symbol of healing
      • "God winks" - moments when God prompts, directs, or comforts us
      • Carl Jung on synchronicity: "People don't see God in their lives because they don't look long enough"
      • Scientific backing from neuroscientist Tara Swart and the concept of spiritual intelligence
        • Ancient Places and Celtic Spirituality

        • The healing shrine of St. Winifred at Holywell
        • Remote churches, healing wells, and crosses along the route
        • Welsh concepts: Heddwch (outer peace) vs. Tangnefedd (inner peace)
        • R.S. Thomas's "confetti moments" - small instances where hope, love, and joy break through
          • Vulnerability in Leadership

          • Why Trystan chose to share his personal story after seven previous books
          • The challenge of being defined by disability rather than seen as a whole person
          • New criteria for Church in Wales ministry that emphasizes vulnerability and weakness as strengths
          • "We don't want Superman in our churches. We want Lois Lane's, Clark Kent's - real people who are vulnerable, open, and compassionate"


            • Resources Mentioned

            Books:

            • "To Hell's Mouth and Back: Pilgrimage, Suffering, and Hope" by Trystan Owain Hughes
            • "Finding Hope and Meaning in Suffering" by Trystan Owain Hughes

              Other references:

              • "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl
              • "The Signs" by Tara Swart
              • Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood"
              • Carl Jung's work on synchronicity
              • Edith Eger (Holocaust survivor and psychologist)
              • David Gray's album "Life in Slow Motion"

                • About GoHealth

                GoHealth is an organization with a vision to enable churches and individual Christians to be a healing presence in the world. The GoHealth Community offers online courses, monthly gatherings, and a supportive space to explore how to connect faith and health.

                Connect with GoHealth:

                • Join the GoHealth Community
                • Join the conversation about vulnerability and impactful leadership
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