Backyard Pilgrim: Forty Days at Godspeed

by Matt Canlis

THIS LENT, BEGIN THE GODSPEED PILGRIMAGE TOWARD EASTER.
For 40 days…Walk from Genesis to Jesus in your own backyard.
This guided pilgrimage follows 2 paths: one biblical, one local . . .
The BIBLE PATH is already charted – 40 verses from Genesis to John’s Gospel following the story of God’s first question to Adam & Eve, “Where are you?” to Jesus Christ’s answer on our behalf: “Here I am for you, in places you’d never expect.”
The PARISH PATH is a particular route each pilgrim chooses, and commits to walking 15 minutes a day for forty days. Churches or small groups can also chose to gather one night a week to ask questions about the Bible Path verses, and to share stories from their local parish walks.

https://www.livegodspeed.org/shoppe/b...

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

143 pages

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Claire Stanovich]

A delightful structure of discipline. I loved the sentiment for how Canlis approached the 40 days. I would recommend watching the short documentary first -- it is excellent!

Some of the Parish paths were difficult to accomplish per what was available to my neighborhood. I do wish more of them had been questions rather than observing something specific.

Experiencing a "second naiveté: slowing down to become God's child again" but remembering that the purpose of Godspeed is "less about slowing down and more about becoming known."

[Heidi]

I will use this guide again. Its insights and applications are compelling.

[Julia Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this a few weeks ago & absolutely loved it and will be reading it again

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent way to move through Lent. These short devos encourage the reader to walk through their neighborhood and get to know and engage with where they live. I wasn't able to do that because I'm moving, but I found this book to be gentle, engaging, encouraging, and overall very lovely. I'm looking forward to using it fully next year.

Second read through: still didn't make it out to walk every day this Lent, but this is such a solid devo. It definitely got me thinking more about my community and about what the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ actually means for me. Maybe next year I'll find the motivation/time to do the walking part.

[Tanner Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one over the last few weeks. It incorporates daily walks around your neighborhood, which is something I’m already doing every day with Willow, and so I was encouraged by walking at the speed of Jesus and thinking and praying in a rhythm that is already familiar.

“And God made humans not because God was needy, but because God loved making children. God didn’t need slaves. God wanted children.”

[Daunavan Buyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. I had the honour of going through it as part of a weekly study with Matt Canlis and that only helped me engage more deeply with the content. This isn’t a book to read quickly, it’s a book to be lived out.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Backyard Pilgrim challenges you to walk a path in your neighborhood for 15 minutes a day, with the goal of “becoming more childlike and “to risk knowing and being known”. It is the practice of not just looking out, but stepping out and experiencing Gods creation, wondering as your wander.

“God is closer than you think....there is holy ground beneath your feet”.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem. So simple and yet so deep and rich - lent itself to pondering.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this 40-day (42, actually ;-) ) devotional. It's timed to lead you through the season of Lent, culminating with Christ's resurrection, but of course, it would be a wonderful read any time of year, especially if you watched Godspeed and want to spend time with its message. The devotions are inspired by Godpeed but do not require familiarity with watching it. Each day begins in scripture and ends with an idea for a walk in your "parish". Canlis emphasizes incarnational experience of knowing God and your neighbors and being known by them. I'd recommend this for any believer who wants to learn to slow down and experience God day to day.

[Lyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is gently profound. Thoroughly enjoyed my journey through it with my church... the content is very good, and moved me to tears and deeper ponderings every time I engaged with it. I only marked it down a star because it wasn’t edited/proofread very well and some of the errors/wording faux pas were distracting. A shame, considering the obvious work that went into it and the wisdom of the author!

[Taylor Okvianto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I LOVEED THIS. This book is a book that encourages you to go on pilgrimage in your own neighborhood!! With the driving question, “Where are You?” We ask God, He asks us, and He asks and answers.

“God is closer than you think…there is Holy ground beneath your feet”

This pilgrim is 40 days with a 15 min walk so it was actually quite doable here in the fast pace lifestyle in the west.
Godspeed friends!!

Also shoutout Young Life Staff training for making us read this.

[Joel Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the devotionals I have read, this one is head and shoulders over the rest. Matt Canlis has expertly integrated faith with community, reflection, and provoking thought of what it means to move at Godspeed. I cannot recommend this book enough for someone wanting to create space for God to meet you where you are at. Oh, and it's even better to bring a friend.

[Emma Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for work and loved the chance to walk through how to slow down in God’s presence. This would be a great study for Lent and I am excited to apply the child-like truths that I learned in my daily life.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This daily devotional book has bite-size nuggets that helped me think about who God is and the gospel story. I will remember the picture of being lost, and the repetition around being found… “here I am”.

[Alex Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful Lenten devotional with a daily Bible and Parish path. To know the kind of parent God is. To go for a walk each day and know His goodness. To know the ways Jesus says “Here I am.” I love taking the faith and letting it lead us to action.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even of you dont get to do the walking/application portion, reading daily and taking the time to chew on it is highly beneficial.

[Ben Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute game changer

[Brent Townley]

A challenging and rich journey. I highly recommend this pilgrimage. Its easily accessible, no need to travel, and a wonderful way to meditate on scripture and walk with the Spirit.

[Luke Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you feel like you need to slow down, this book is a great way to help you practice slowing down. For 6 weeks it walks you through several passages of scripture and has you take a 15 minute prayer walk a day. I had never heard of this book before, but it was recommended to me and I am better because of it.

[Brandon Trump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing 40-day devotional that explores where God is and where we are. It helps you better understand God’s character and human nature. Very interactive and engaging.

[Vincent Derr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This devotional is weird. I don’t know how else to put it, it’s not unbiblical just weird. Sprouting from a different tradition than ours, Matt Canlis invites us not to slow down but go at Godspeed. What was weird or made me so uncomfortable was how deep Matt was willing to go down the God as father/parent rabbit hole. We talk about God as Father all the time, but not the way Matt does in this devotional. Matt interprets passages in ways I’ve never heard them, to be fair they are legitimate interpretations. I don’t see his line of interpretation as wrong. So, add the deepness/intimate picture of God as Father and foreign interpretations and it just was a weird and uncomfortable devotional. Perhaps, that’s the point, it felt a little bit like my shoes were on the wrong feet every time I read. It’s a good devotional, probably not for everyone, but I can see it being deeply impactful to the right person.