Reflection at sunrise: the pilgrim’s lauds

‘Request

When my last roll has struck
Then don’t put a stone or throw pebbles on my grave.
Those lifeless people don’t know anything about dying.
Rather, lay down a trunk of a freshly cut tree
and come
Come and have a look
Come and have a look again and again.
See how fungi and spiders make their network
How larvae entrench themselves under the bark
How to Beetles and Beetles with Their Jaws
softening the wood until it becomes spongy
and wait
and wait
Wait a little longer
‘Til spring comes
with newly fledged birds pecking insects
Columns of ants moving their eggs
and the lime green leaves of a chestnut sprout
that stretches from the slump wood to the sun
So it will be with me:
after my death I will give life.”

Linda Vogelesang in Seasons of Life: A Contemporary Book of Hours and Pilgrims (more).

This Saturday morning is the first Saturday of the month and that is the time for our pilgrim lauds: a sunrise reflection on Seasons of Life: a contemporary book of hours and pilgrims. This book was published at the opening of our route in 2015 with contributions from well-known and unknown Dutch people about an important life experience. Poets and painters made small works of art to go with it: miniatures.

At the pilgrim’s lauds, one story from the book is read aloud by the reader on duty. At sunrise we make a silent tour through the 13th century Stevens Church to stop at a special edition of Seasons of Life. All original works of art are bound in this edition. The book stands next to a life-size statue of our symbol
Pilgrim
and can otherwise only be viewed behind glass.

Welcome to this free reflection for the weekend or the beginning of your pilgrimage. Registration is not necessary, but be on time: the pilgrim lauden starts at 07.45 am at the service entrance of Stevenskerkhof 62. The meeting lasts fifteen minutes. More information:

https://walkofwisdom.org/evenement/pelgrimslauden-5/

Ada Dispa: Autumn. One of the miniatures from Seasons of Life: A Contemporary Book of Hours and Pilgrims