As someone who lives by the Ohio River, you have given me much to think about! My personal path has led me fully out of Catholicism/Christianity. My exodus began over different issues than discussed here but led me to land and ancestor based practices that are deeply meaningful to me. A water pilgrimage sounds amazing!
I think all of us inland folks are river people, right? At least in the eastern US. Land and ancestral practices were actually what led me back to the church. I think they can positively reinforce each other, but definitely feels like some humans are getting in the way of that these days.
Amy, this is wonderful. Beautifully written, impeccably researched, inspiring. I live just a few blocks from the Mississippi River. I try to be mindful of my water usage and what goes into the storm sewers. But have I ever really thought about the Mississippi watershed? Um, not really.
Coincidentally, I drove up to Lake Itasca over the weekend. It was a pilgrimage of a sort. Born and raised in Minnesota, I walked across those rocks at the headwaters as a child. So did my children. I was there to perform a small ritual in my late husband’s honor. And it did get me thinking about tributaries and the word tribute. About waterways. And watersheds, and all of the ways water flows (yes) into our language.
I’ve never heard of a watershed pilgrimage. Your article is so rich and informative. Thank you for sharing your wide knowledge and insight.
Thank you Mary! And yes, when you pause to think about the Mississippi watershed its size is astounding. I have never been to Lake Itasca, but I have been feeling really called to go. I have a dream of biking the length of the Mississippi with my daughters when they are teens, but I will be surprised if they go for my hair brained idea.
Amy, you should go. To see the humble beginnings of the great river is a reminder of the way we all start small, but can grow to magnificence. And over the weekend, the fall colors were extraordinary. They may have faded by now, and - sadly - I didn’t get pictures. Whenever I stopped, it clouded over. Another time. I think the bike trip sounds great. If your daughters won’t go with you, I’m sure you can find a group of like-minded people.
Wow! What an incredible essay Amy - I love watershed discipleship.
And yes to pilgrimage as a reparative act. Many years ago I was on a watershed pilgrimage with Walking Water (https://walking-water.org/) - which was featured in this beautiful water documentary by my dear friend, Emmett Brennan. (https://www.reflectionfilm.com/)
I'd love to support a pilgrimage as it emerges from the watershed.
Amy, you and everyone who walks as gently and thoughtfully on this earth with Christ in their hearts are the truest of Christians. You've helped me to feel hope and comfort in people of the Christian faith. While I will never call myself a Christian or follower of Christ, I have so much love and respect for those who truly live by Christ's example and who are making the world a kinder, better place.
Thanks Genevieve! I'm definitely in a time where the separation between Christ and the Church seems very large. It's frustrating to see the Church decrying non-believers without expressing any understanding of how the corrupt, oppressive, and violent behaviors of the church caused that alienation. On the other hand, it is the cosmology of my ancestors, so it feels more natural to braid my spiritual practices into that as a way to connect to them than to try to construct something for myself. It's complicated to hold both of these truths for sure!
This was beautiful and I want to give a resounding YES (or maybe AMEN!) to all of it!
Thank you so much for introducing me to the idea of watershed disciple! Yes! This has been my experience for the last two years and I did not have this language for it. I am a disciple of my watershed, my Lake. I’m on the shores of Lake Erie and I’ve been capturing her in (and some of her nearest rivers and tributaries) in paint and photo and it’s given me that profound feeling of being “of” my place in the world.
As someone who lives by the Ohio River, you have given me much to think about! My personal path has led me fully out of Catholicism/Christianity. My exodus began over different issues than discussed here but led me to land and ancestor based practices that are deeply meaningful to me. A water pilgrimage sounds amazing!
I think all of us inland folks are river people, right? At least in the eastern US. Land and ancestral practices were actually what led me back to the church. I think they can positively reinforce each other, but definitely feels like some humans are getting in the way of that these days.
Amy, this is wonderful. Beautifully written, impeccably researched, inspiring. I live just a few blocks from the Mississippi River. I try to be mindful of my water usage and what goes into the storm sewers. But have I ever really thought about the Mississippi watershed? Um, not really.
Coincidentally, I drove up to Lake Itasca over the weekend. It was a pilgrimage of a sort. Born and raised in Minnesota, I walked across those rocks at the headwaters as a child. So did my children. I was there to perform a small ritual in my late husband’s honor. And it did get me thinking about tributaries and the word tribute. About waterways. And watersheds, and all of the ways water flows (yes) into our language.
I’ve never heard of a watershed pilgrimage. Your article is so rich and informative. Thank you for sharing your wide knowledge and insight.
Thank you Mary! And yes, when you pause to think about the Mississippi watershed its size is astounding. I have never been to Lake Itasca, but I have been feeling really called to go. I have a dream of biking the length of the Mississippi with my daughters when they are teens, but I will be surprised if they go for my hair brained idea.
Amy, you should go. To see the humble beginnings of the great river is a reminder of the way we all start small, but can grow to magnificence. And over the weekend, the fall colors were extraordinary. They may have faded by now, and - sadly - I didn’t get pictures. Whenever I stopped, it clouded over. Another time. I think the bike trip sounds great. If your daughters won’t go with you, I’m sure you can find a group of like-minded people.
Wow! What an incredible essay Amy - I love watershed discipleship.
And yes to pilgrimage as a reparative act. Many years ago I was on a watershed pilgrimage with Walking Water (https://walking-water.org/) - which was featured in this beautiful water documentary by my dear friend, Emmett Brennan. (https://www.reflectionfilm.com/)
I'd love to support a pilgrimage as it emerges from the watershed.
Thank you! Walking Water sounds amazing, I look forward to checking it out. I'll keep you posted if/when we gain forward momentum.
Amy, you and everyone who walks as gently and thoughtfully on this earth with Christ in their hearts are the truest of Christians. You've helped me to feel hope and comfort in people of the Christian faith. While I will never call myself a Christian or follower of Christ, I have so much love and respect for those who truly live by Christ's example and who are making the world a kinder, better place.
Thanks Genevieve! I'm definitely in a time where the separation between Christ and the Church seems very large. It's frustrating to see the Church decrying non-believers without expressing any understanding of how the corrupt, oppressive, and violent behaviors of the church caused that alienation. On the other hand, it is the cosmology of my ancestors, so it feels more natural to braid my spiritual practices into that as a way to connect to them than to try to construct something for myself. It's complicated to hold both of these truths for sure!
This was beautiful and I want to give a resounding YES (or maybe AMEN!) to all of it!
Thank you so much for introducing me to the idea of watershed disciple! Yes! This has been my experience for the last two years and I did not have this language for it. I am a disciple of my watershed, my Lake. I’m on the shores of Lake Erie and I’ve been capturing her in (and some of her nearest rivers and tributaries) in paint and photo and it’s given me that profound feeling of being “of” my place in the world.
Thank you Lindsey! I love that you are of your place and that Lake Erie and its tributaries have a loving witness!
bill gates is extracting 12 million gallons of water from an aquifer in northern florida.
Ugh, is it related to Microsoft's AI efforts or a different project?
Amy, this is wonderful. Thank you.
Thanks John, I know I'm doing it right if you're pleased with my water commentary:)
“This is where I think becoming the artist-in-residence of your home place becomes discipleship. “ THIS. What a way to walk through the world!
Yes! It brings a vitality to you and a sacred essence to your place, a whole new way of noticing!