Day 29

“There’s nothing quite like travel to make you appreciate the place from which you began your travels.” J.D Landis 
Sometimes words just get in the way of good quotes. So I may just let this one stand on its own. But simply say a thank you to all of you for your love and support. Your encouragement and sweet texts and notes. 

A special note of love and thanks to my mom and daddy my true beginning for the gifts of love and faith and hope that they gave me growing up and still give me now. 

I love you all, will see you soon and look forward to sharing my journey with you more fully when I return. 

Buen Camino. 

Day 28

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step…”Lao Tzu 
Two years ago last March I got a Fitbit in anticipation for what would then be my first Camino journey. I’m on my 4th Fitbit which is another story for another time, but by June 12 I will have walked over 5000 miles in 2 years. That’s two Caminos, a marathon, a few half marathons, hiking, and just walking…

The other day Lindsay and I met a fellow pilgrim who has who has been walking for three years. He started his journey in Singapore. He heard of the Camino from someone he encountered while walking. He has walked over 11,000 kms. That’s nearly 7000 miles in 3 years. 

But regardless whether you walk 1 mile or 1000, or 7000 it begins with a single step. Taking that initial step; that initiative to get out the door, a risk if you willl…to follow your dreams. And it won’t happen without you. So go for it!! Take that first step!

Buen Camino 

Day 27

“The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you. There’s only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you’ll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.” Frederick Buechner 
So two things for today:

If you are reading this you know me somehow. And if you know me a little then you might be aware that I’m a bit clumsy but I always learn something, hence the name of my blog: “tripping into grace”. I know I’ve said it before but it bears repeating. Grace is a gift that is given where we are renewed, lifted up, restored, given hope, loved…and more. Grace is amazing and powerful and beautiful. So that’s one. 

Secondly, anyone who gets to know me well will at some point hear the name Frederick Buechner. I quote him often. He is one of my favorite authors. And above is one of my favorite quotes. 

No one goes through life unscathed. “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen.” Perhaps we would like to take one, the first, but not the second, not the terrible. But the reality of life is we don’t get that choice. So where is the good in this? Well for me the really joyful thing is that God doesn’t leave us alone in the beauty or the terrible, but stays right with us in love. 

“It’s for you I created the universe. I love you. There’s only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you’ll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.”
Buen Camino 

Day 26

“No rain, no rainbows” 
As most of you know I started gathering inspirational quotes from friends before I left for the Camino. You all were very gracious to share them with me. I didn’t put them in any particular order though interestingly enough they have come at great times for me and often meaningful times for friends and family. 

For Day 26-no rain, no rainbows is pretty simple without the inconvenience of the rain we do not get to see the beauty of the rainbow. But right now where Lindsay and I are the heat has been stifling. We had an icy rain day and certainly would not want that. And it’s not fun to walk in the rain but this heat is brutal. And to see some rainbows would be outstanding 

But to be honest even without rain, we have seen rainbows. Every day of walking up hills or through the meseta heat we get stronger and that strength we are gaining is a different kind of rainbow. When we have had to say goodbye to new friends made on the Camino through tears shed a rainbow appears because we know that with many we will stay connected. When we listen to the many and varied stories of why people are walking the Camino the multicolored rainbow appears. 

This is true not just on the Camino, but in life as well. Even in our most difficult struggles we can find strength, joy, hope, peace. If we avoid them we may be prolonging not just pain but also healing and joy. 

My thought for this day. 
Buen Camino