News from home

We walked 24 kms today.  Before we started I wouldn't have said that by day three we would be walking over 20k but the walk invites one to take on more than expected.  

 El Magitic Casa. 

Last evening we stayed at an albergue we had really enjoy last time.  The same folks were running the place but they had had to sell the albergue and change things up.   This will be Simone's last season for both her albergue work and her life partnership with Miguel.   She shared her story a bit when we reminded her that we had stay with them two years ago.  They had saved a beautiful old house from destruction.  It was sad to hear of two very hospital and caring people separating and loosing their dream.   Suffering is it part of life and part of the journey.  Of the 7 of us at three were had blisters and feet problems.   One young man was getting his family to send a different pair of shoes to general delivery a few days ahead.   He was also taking a day out to heal.

Meanwhile back home life goes on.

Arriving in Los Arcos, after our 24km walk, I was feeling a little warn out.  My shoulders hurt and my feet were ready for rest.   I checked my email to find a message from my sister.  My mother is in the hospital from a bad reaction to a new prescription drug.  My brother assures me by email that things are under control but still this was one of my concerns for the trip. Stuff happens Life continues just because I am on a pilgrimage doesn't mean the journey doesn't continue for everyone else at home.   

So I surrender my fears and my hopes to the Holy One and let go.  

The pilgrimage doesn't remove one from the trials of life but focuses the meaning, the priorities, the hopes, the fears, and the love.

Of course on a more trivial  note one of my priorities has to be food.  I discovered last time that eggs fried in tasty olive oil is very satisfying after a longs day walk.   It isn't entirely trivial note because food is a very basic need of every human being and there are so many who have to worry about their next meal every day.  Even in your own affluent communities.  Suffering is present all around is but we mostly remain sheltered and separated from it.   Being truly hungry after a long days journey sharpens ones view of the world, add in news from home and life does come in focus.   Imagine how sharp the view of the realities of the world are for the homeless in our community.

Last evening a conversation unfolded about church and attendance and the value of religion.m It often does when I let out that I am a minister.  I heard the views of three of the more talkative in the group but I avoided offering too much myself.  I know you are all surprised.  One comment was about how once the churches were all full because life was harder and people needed support and community.   In spain during the time of Franco the churches were full partly because the church was the of only place the fascist government had no influence or power.   The same theory applies to the 1950s in North American.  After ww2 the whole of society was seeking meaning and purpose, and the strengthening of communinty and mutral support, all things the church offers so th churches were full. 

Meanwhile even though in Spain, like at home, the churches are struggling to find their place in modern society the bells still ring in the Church towers and the doors still open to the sacred spaces inviting pilgrims to cool shelter and warm welcome. 

Bill