Pilgrim’s Progress Chapter 3

WEEK THREE:

Pilgrim’s Progress, Chapter Three

I joined the St. Matthew’s Pilgrimage to Alabama seeking a deeper understanding of the lives of enslaved women, men, and children in our nation’s history. What I experienced was eye-opening, sobering, and far more profound than I expected. Standing in places where courageous individuals confronted racial injustice felt like walking on hallowed ground - from the site where Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat on the bus, to the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma where marchers led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. protested the suppression of Black voting rights. Our visit to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Museum and Memorial was especially powerful, reminding us of the importance of truth-telling as a step toward reconciliation.

Equally meaningful was the unexpected hospitality we encountered throughout the trip. From hotel and restaurant staff to museum guides and people we met along the way, everyone welcomed us warmly. Sharing this experience with such a thoughtful group of fellow pilgrims made the journey even more special. It was a transformative time of learning, reflection, and fellowship that will stay with me for years to come.

Mike Maloney