Life on The Way 

We left Porto de Marin this morning about 8:30 a.m. It was raining but we are well equipped for rain. Remember when I told you that one has to walk from Sarria to Santiago to get your “official” status as a pilgrim? The number of pilgrims increased drastically since Sarria. If some of you are wondering if you want to/could do the Way. This is a good choice. It will take you about a week. The terrain is not really difficult and the landscape STILL breath-taking. Your pack can be significantly smaller as you only need a week of “goods!” It is a reasonable choice. HOWEVER, still train and train WITH your pack. Train with your backpack close to the weight you will carry. It makes such a difference. Don’t worry if your neighbors think you are “touched in the head” or homeless because you are walking around with a pack on your back and poles in your hands. You are TRAINING!!!  Besides you meet a lot of nice people wondering what in this world you are doing!

We had planned to walk only 9 miles today. The topographical map showed two horrendous ascents plus we were now transversing the last top of the mountain range. There are plenty of ups and downs.  We had walked 16 plus miles yesterday and were beat. The ascents were actually easy and the rain subsided and we kept walking and walking. We met new pilgrims. Many were actually closer to our children’s ages rather than our older grandchildren’s ages. There was the Spainerd, Begi, whose mom died last year. She had longed for them to walk the Camino together. This Camino is in honor of her life. We met two Argentinians, father and son. They have a loving relationship but the father hates the cell phone the son stays on. Three Israelies that are two sons and an aging father. The sons are so fit but they walk gently with their father. What tender moments and glimpses into the mercies of family. 

Lessons from the Trinity:

1.  Relationships matter SO much to Him. You remember with me that Jesus came and died so that we might have a RELATIONSHIP with the Trinity. 

2. We saw a renewed presence of sheep today. They have no defense except for their sheperd. If they wander very far from his watchful eye…well, there are a lot of desperate characters ready to eat them alive. ( Stay close to Him )

3. The final lesson comes from a very light novel that I am reading. ( it is on my kindle so it is light in weight but it is also light in brain power. It has a very simple plot.) I am going to quote the passage that He used to touch me. “The Holy One breathes His very breath into us and gives us the most precious gift He could give–life! And He places us in a world that is filled with wonderful things to see and do..wonderful people to know and to love. And He says,”There! Enjoy! And all He asks in return is that we don’t squander this gift on ourselves, but that we give it away. That we show others that He is a God of redemption and love. ”

Buen Camino!