The gift of helping

We have been stopped.  Not in a bad way.  Resting is an opportunity to reflected and heal in all ways.  My littlest toe on my left foot is suffering so we are stopped for the day.  However we are not alone a German woman has paused with us with aweful blister and swollen ankle.  We all went to the clinic yesterday and briefly saw a stressed out doctor, then a very helpful nurse who took very good care and gave us motherly advise.   The spainish health care system is fully public so there was no cost.  Good thing we had all the travel insurance.   So we find ourselves travelling with Michelle from central Germany.   The decision to take a rest day was difflecultly for me.  I wanted to push on through it with stubbornness and strength.  When it was clear that Michelle needed to stop it was easier for me to make the decision.  I felt emotional, vulnerable but her tears helped me to release and let go.   So after a morning nap and soaking my feet the compassion and skill of the nurse was welcome.  

Both Kelly and I were independently feeling that somehow the divine spirit meant us to stay and help Michelle, maybe for her sake and ours.   The Camino opens ones heart up to see the intervention of God in the lives arround you.  Personally I felt that my little toe blister shouldn't have become infected.  It was the smallest of the three blisters I am contending with so maybe between my body demanding rest and Michelle needing our compassion all things have come together. 

The wisdom from this experience for the church is that we should remain open to the gift to offer compassionate ministry.  Something may come our way, or someone, and we should be willing to set aside our plans to respond.   What is the goal of the journey, to gain some great accomplishment, to earn some great honour, or to truly connect with other humans beings, and thus to truly connect with God?  Caring for another pilgrim has given our journey meaning, a new purpose beyond the designation.  "Blessed is the pilgrim who realizes it not the arrival to the destination that counts but who you arrive with that is the blessing."  Most congregations miss the obvious ministries, and callings, that abound in the world arround us.   Often the focus becomes the destination rather than the journey.   Maybe the destination is about the budget or just plain survival, but while all the people of the congregation are emotionally attached to some "crisis" then a suffering lonely pilgrim can walk right by with no one noticing. 

For a number of days we walked with a strong independent woman, she helped others, and was self reliant but she needed company.  Because we walked with her we stayed at a number of inexpensive hostels, including a refuge attached to a church in a small community.  She was the type of person that one would welcome into the church, to serve, to join in and contribute.  In Burgos we needed some extra rest so she went on ahead and we met her in Rabe, 13km out.  In Rabe we met Michelle and as you now know we rested.   Being needed for company, and friendship is lovely but when one is called to offer compassion it becomes Spiritual.  

I think there is a question in there for every congregation, is your ministry about fellowship and community alone or is your ministry about compassion.   A nice social club can meet the needs of fellowship, but feeling your heart ache because  you have been called to be compassionate towards another is a deeper, more purposeful, and maybe even a divine experience.  Likewise the difference between a book club and a book study or bible study with spiritual content.  The group of friends talking about a book they read can be instructive, and can create community.  However the study group who brings the Spirit into the discussion are inviting not only personal change but are invited to respond to the call to serve in the world.   

Meanwhile the hospitality of the local people continues to impress me.  Last evening we had asked our host to call a taxi to shuffle us on to the next stopped on the Camino.   It was posted on the wall that the trip would cost us 60euros.  Instead she found a friend to drive us for 45euros.  Advantageous  for us both.  She enbraced  us all, kissing our cheeks and sent us our way like children off to school.  

Today we rest in Castrosjeriz at a campground with an Albergue (hostel) in the shadow of a fort on hill that is a least 2000 years old.  Tomorrow we will see where the Camino takes us and with whom.

Tomorrow the church will see where the journey takes us and with whom, the journey never ends for the church if there are people of faith with compassion in their hearts.