每年有超過兩億不同信仰的人參與朝聖。從古至今，對許多人來說，朝聖者的任務是前往某個聖地接受祝福。朝聖者的目的地不外是廟宇、大教堂、神社，或其他可以求得祝福的地方。

但英國凱爾特族的基督徒對「朝聖」卻有不同的看法。他們的朝聖是在荒野漫遊，或是在海上漂流，隨遇而安。對他們而言，朝聖就是在陌生的環境中學習信靠上帝，若有任何的祝福，都是在朝聖的旅途中得到，而無需到達某個特定的地點。

希伯來書11章對凱爾特人來說，是非常重要的經文。因為在基督裡的生活，就是拋開世俗的生活方式，像異鄉人一樣長途跋涉進入上帝的聖城（13-16節），這樣的人生旅程就有如朝聖之旅。朝聖者在艱難、杳無人跡的路途中倚靠上帝，相信上帝的供應，從而使自己能像古時的信心偉人那樣信靠上帝（1-12節）。

這實在是寶貴的一課，或許我們並非真的去某個地方朝聖，但對基督徒來說，人生旅程就是邁向上帝天國的朝聖之旅，處處是黑暗的森林、無路的絕境，以及許多磨難。在我們的朝聖之旅中，願我們都不會錯失上帝的供應所帶來的祝福。

More than two hundred million people from a variety of faiths undertake a pilgrimage each year. For many throughout the ages, a pilgrim’s task has been to journey to a sacred place to receive some kind of blessing. It’s been all about reaching the temple, cathedral, shrine, or other destination where a blessing can be received.

Britain’s Celtic Christians, however, saw pilgrimage differently. They set out directionless into the wild or let their boats drift wherever the oceans took them—pilgrimage for them being about trusting God in unfamiliar territory. Any blessing was found not at the destination but along the journey.

Hebrews 11 was an important passage for the Celts. Since the life in Christ is about leaving the world’s ways behind and trekking like foreigners to the city of God (vv. 13-16), a pilgrimage echoed their life’s journey. By trusting God to provide along their difficult, untrodden path, the pilgrim grew the kind of faith lived by the heroes of old (vv. 1-12).

What a lesson to learn, whether we physically trek or not: for those who have trusted Jesus, life is a pilgrimage to God’s heavenly country, full of dark forests, dead ends, and trials. As we journey through, may we not miss the blessing of experiencing God’s provision along the way.