The Day I Realized I Wasn’t a Pilgrim
Lalibela, Ethiopia. One year ago today, I stood in the shadow of a church carved from stone, surrounded by people who believed in something bigger than themselves. I wanted to feel awe. Instead, I felt like a tourist with dust on my shoes and a camera I was too embarrassed to use.
I kept thinking: maybe if I prayed, or pretended to, I’d belong. But the truth is, I was just passing through, chasing meaning in someone else’s sacred place. The photos I took are still on my phone, unposted. They look beautiful, but I remember how small I felt, and how badly I wanted to matter to a place that didn’t need me.
#Travel #TravelConfession #CulturalDistance
