Today I saw a picture of a scalloped shell. This is actually the spiritual symbol of the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) Pilgrimage. It comprises a network of ways to the shrine of St James where tradition maintains his remains are buried, in northwestern Spain. James and his brother John (from whom we get the Gospel of John), fishermen on the sea of Galilee, were the first people Jesus called to be his disciples. The Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage represents a spiritual path or retreat for spiritual growth, predominantly pursued on foot. The scalloped shell is used as a spiritual symbol for this Pilgrimage, with the lines representing the various routes pilgrims follow, all leading to the same destination of unity and shared spiritual goals. This imagery today of the scallop shell serves as a good reminder that we are all on a pilgrimage, following different routes, but to the same end, of union with God . The psalmists, in the Old Testament' described this beautifully in Psalm 84:1,5: "How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!...Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage." Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, tells the church in Philippi: "But our citizenship is in heaven, ..." (Philippians 3:20). Let all mankind be united in the aim of being united with God.
