Embracing Wrinkles as Maps of Wisdom
When I looked in the mirror this morning, I noticed a whole bunch of tiny wrinkles beneath my eyes that weren’t there yesterday.
I know they weren’t because it was only yesterday that I was using the mirror to get dressed for my son’s wedding.
No wait! That was thirty years ago!
As I smooth a wrinkle with my finger (it doesn’t do any good) I reflect on those years as if they were one very long road trip.
A road trip I had begun many decades before as a little girl who wanted to grow up to be a missionary doctor…or circus performer.
They both seemed like worthy goals at the time.
Wrinkles parallel a spiritual pilgrimage
This road trip that we call life has a lot of parallels to a spiritual pilgrimage, a subject that has been on my mind since reading Joanna Penn’s book Pilgrimage. (A marvelous read, by the way!)
In her book, Joanna Penn shares her stories and lessons from three pilgrimages. It got me thinking about the meaning of ‘pilgrimage’ and how it applies to our journey across the mountains and deserts of aging.
We often forget that growing older encompasses more than just time and physical changes. We can perceive aging as a dedicated expedition, much like a spiritual journey.
The spiritual aspect involves developing inner growth and new wisdom over time, similar to those who journey along the El Camino Real pilgrimage route in Spain.
As we grow older, we gain the ability to distinguish what’s important from what’s irrelevant. We have greater insight and wisdom from having stumbled in the dark so much in our youth (or maybe last month!).
What Wrinkles Teach
Along this journey, we also gain a greater appreciation for our relationships, a realization of life’s fleeting beauty, and the discovery of purpose in both successes and challenges.
Our mortality teaches us to treasure time in moments, not years. With age, our bodies may weaken, but our souls become stronger, bringing balance to a world that seems off-kilter.
I wonder if wrinkles are more than just signs of aging but also maps of our spiritual pilgrimage. Every line on our faces represents a significant moment in our journey, whether it be a challenge we’ve conquered or a love we’ve felt.
When you discover a wrinkle, smile and consider it a symbol of your spiritual progress.
A long time ago, a hairdresser pointed out a grey hair on my head (decades ago!). She asked if I wanted to ‘color it’. I immediately replied, “Absolutely not! I earn every one of those hairs!”
Since that day, I have taken to writing the stories behind each wrinkle and each colorless strand of hair.
I may have to turn to fiction or fantasy to satisfy my imagination about my shrinking stature, but that could be fun! Perhaps I am on a journey to reconnect with elfin ancestors.
These typical signs of aging are for my reflection and enjoyment. Each wrinkle and scar holds something for me to explore, like turning over rocks in an open field and seeing what lives there.
A ‘Wrinkle’ Pilgrimage
Remember— pilgrimages are not foot races! They are journeys of reflection and growth. Mostly taken in solitude. Doesn’t that describe aging pretty well?
No matter how long the journey, we can’t get there any faster than anyone else. One day at a time. One breath at a time.
And even though we have family and friends around us, no one can make the pilgrimage for us.
Growing old is done in solitude, despite other people around us. The journey is ours alone.
The Importance of Record Keeping
Joanna Penn kept notes all along her journeys and ended up writing a memoir of her experience. We may or may not end up writing a book, but we don’t have much of a chance without some notes to follow.
I was not a journaler of my pilgrimage through life, and I regret that today. Today I am intentional about keeping journals in a couple of different ways.
The most important one is my daily journal which I have recently been storing digitally in an app called Day One. I have scattered notes and pictures from trips, classes, and reflections all in the same place, and they are more accessible than a pile of notebooks that are packed away in a box.
Will I complete my ‘life review’? Will I finish a memoir I have started?
These are my records of my ‘Camino Real.’ I hope some day they matter to someone. On that day it won’t be me.
And that is OK.
They may lead others to consider their life journey as a pilgrim and treasure the adventure.
I encourage you to take notes along your way. Who knows, you may decide to write a book like Joanna Penn.
But if you don’t write one, read hers. It’s an easy read, and as you read, think about your pilgrimage through life…the people you meet and will never see again, the people you meet who become part of your life, the bends in the road, and the scenery.
The deserts and mountains. Forests and streams. Be prepared for blisters and sore muscles along the way.
Don’t be like people who wake up one day and realize they are old and don’t know how they got there. Be intentional about your life as a pilgrimage and arrive with a sense of celebration despite the blisters.
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It could be just what you need!
