Our life journey, an experience full of adventure and mystery, is one that we all travel through the sands of time. From time immemorial, countless philosophers have sought the essence of our humanity, and the most devout religious practitioners have dedicated their lives to the search of Truth. But for those of us with other professions who lead modest lives in our communities, how can the pursuit of the deepest philosophical questions help us become better people and contribute to a better world? How can introspection and contemplation bring tangible rewards to our daily lives? "Journey on...

In the spring of 2002, high school students from North America and Europe were selected to participate in the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth. Their mission was to explore the essence of international dialogue and confront the new era of globalization through first-hand experience. This was no ordinary youth program. On July 11th, these thirty student delegates embarked upon a journey that would greatly challenge their existing worldview, which until that time, was shaped only by their familiar, local surroundings. Cultures that for centuries remained oceans...