Wrong state of being

Less than 20 days before we leave.  One would think that the preparation would be Spiritual as well as practical but I find that my life seems to be accelerating rather than slowing down.  Between now and our leaving I have two weddings, three worship services, a quick trip to Calgary, a baptism preparation meeting, plus at least five folks in the Congegation is some sort of transistion if not spiritual crisis.   One just arriving in palliative care.  I have decided to carry a small stone for each person I bear in my heart.  3 stones are packed so far.   I could carry dozens but maybe not all my prayers need a stone.  I will leave each stone at the base of the iron cross at the highest point on the camino.  This is a long tradition.  Life goes on.   

I have packed and re packed and taken out items and put them back in.  Latest debate do I include the heavy lacrosse ball to massage my feet each night,  it has been very helpful. (Thanks to our summer pastoral assistant Kirstin Autio for giving it to me after I complained about my hurting  feet.)  Presently with water and energy bars my pack weighs 18.2 pounds.   Add in the lacrosse ball and few other items I think I may be pushing 20.  

I remember last time having carefully considered all my items including changes of clothing only to lose and discard items that had seem so important.  Stuff can weigh you down in life.  Each item requires a place to hold it, effect to protect it, a little bit of consciousness to keep it.   The pilgrimage is all about letting go and sometimes the stuff is the first thing to go.  This so true of our everyday lives as well.  We are pilgrims through this world.  We don't own it.  We are only part of it for a short time.   So why do we try so hard to collect stuff to pack around with us.  Physical stuff and emotional stuff. 

I look forward to the slowing down of my days this summer.  I look forward to recapturing the sense of endless days we all enjoyed in the summers of our childhood.   I look forward to seeing the sunrise on the eternal journey of the pilgrim life.  

Thanks for taking the time to read my wonderings.   On to the next event of my journey - dinner at with a friend to talk about our pilgrimage in anticipation of her pilgrimage this Fall.

Peace. Bill

A new pilgrimage. Preparing

Jun 20th 2014

In less than four weeks we are off again on a pilgrimage on the Camino.  We are travelling without the assistance of our daughter and her spanish language skills so I have been practising what spanish I have.  This time we have not made reservations allowing ourselves to walk as little or as much as we wish on any particular day.

We have chosen to walk the Camino again because we want to re capture the feeling of endless days, and  living in the moment.   Last time we were transistioning in our lives as I began a new job and our daughter had just finished her University.   Life is full of changes but now that I have been at Trinity Memorial in Abbotsford for two years and Kelly has moved on from her work we are looking to have time to think about the "What nexts" in our lives.

I will be better connected this time and able to post more often.  I hope as well to reflect on the deep metaphor of pilgrimage and journey and the journey the church in our changing culture.  In 2012 I found that the camino was a "metaphor rich" environment.  I have been able to use the stories of our walk in sermons and teaching these past two years.  Hopefully the congregation won't get tried of me talking about it.


Stay posted.  Bill