What makes so visually arresting is its setting. Unlike the sweeping green hills of traditional pilgrimages (think Chaucer or Bunyan), Messman’s world is industrial hell.
In the words of Messman, "The pilgrimage is not just a journey to a place; it is a journey to the center of our own being. It is a reminder that the sacred is within us, and that we are capable of transformation, growth, and transcendence." As we conclude this article, we hope that Messman's story will inspire you to embark on your own pilgrimage, whatever that may look like for you. May you find the courage to take the first step, and may your journey be filled with wonder, discovery, and transformation.
What follows is a strange, silent odyssey. The messman-turned-pilgrim does not steer the ship. He does not cook. Instead, he performs a series of quiet, symbolic acts: