The Paper Pilgrim
by
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Pilgrimage
November 17th, 2019
A lady from my new church and I walked along a wooden path, admiring the autumn colours and chatting as we went. Though content to be together, that week my heart was heavy and I spent a great amount of time complaining. She listened, inquired and reassured. Having walked a long time with God already she spoke of him with familiarity, trust and delight. What a strange person I thought while simultaneously feeling envious of her sense of security and peace. Still there were many parts of Christianity I wanted nothing to do with but it was undeniable that my spirit was aching and wanted to be close to God more than anything.
This piece was cut while reflecting on our conversation and meditating on Psalms 84.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns and even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may have her young -
A place near your alter,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
Who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
~ Psalm 84:1-5
Resting on each line of the psalm while observing the way the design in an autumn leaf mimicked the lines of my hand, I was filled with a sense that though restless, I was where I was supposed to be. This marked a turning point in my artwork and my life. Despite lingering questions of faith and an overwhelming sense of isolation that comes with being a bit of a lone wanderer, roaming from home to home, none of that seemed to really matter overall. All that mattered in that moment was seeking God and his calling for my life.
My time paper cutting was shifting from being a creative escape from life in attempts to hold onto my sanity to a restorative and healing experience. It began enabling me to release my thoughts while deep in prayer and journeying forward on a paper pilgrimage to find the presence of God.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a place of springs;
The autumn rains also cover it with pools
They go from strength to strength,
Till each appears before God in Zion
~Psalms 84:6-7
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About the Book
At one time, postpartum depression threatened to end A. Rochow’s story. Instead, God said, “Your story is just beginning,” and shined a light on her divine destiny. In a collection of essays and artwork, Rochow artistically documents how God has used every hardship to bring healing, peace, love, and joy into her life. Each piece of her journey to wholeness is cut from a single piece of paper symbolic of the intricate design hiding within each of us, only to be seen when we allow God to cut away the negative space and reveal His glory through our lives. Through her words, art, and biblical inspiration, she demonstrates how her unique form of worship became instrumental in restoration, preparation, and guidance on how God desired her to walk forward in faith. Included are introspective prompts that encourage believers to pause and reflect on their own spiritual journeys. The Paper Pilgrim shares essays and art that teach how the love of God is always at work and through all of us.
About the Author
A. Rochow is a passionate follower of Christ and lover of visual arts. A former mental health nurse, she now works in development services supporting adults with disabilities. Rochow and her husband have two wonderful daughters and live in a small town near Peterborough, Ontario. The Paper Pilgrim is her first book.