Day 25

“The quieter you become the more that you can hear.” Ram Dass 
Long walks without earphones helps you to hear the sounds around you. But also to listen to your heart and to your body. 

There are days that you want to go more miles, another village, get a little more distance but your body tells you something else. Perhaps it is a blister, or a sore knee, or your Achilles’ tendon; maybe it’s a cold, or ear infection. If you don’t listen to your body you may end up getting worse. 

The same is true in life. We push ourselves to the point of exhaustion and wonder why our bodies break down, or we are too tired to enjoy our free time. We don’t get quiet and listen…

It takes work to do this. Some people are natural at doing this but my guess is that most of us have a difficult time getting quiet enough to really listen. 
Buen Camino 

Day 24

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 
This is so difficult for humans to do: one be still, and let God be God. We busy ourselves constantly with things and often trouble and rarely get still and enjoy. I know because I’m one of the worst. I have a dear friend who reminds me every once in awhile that we are “human beings” not “human doings”. And yet we still try to stay busy. 

While taking a walk whether here in Spain or back home I spend a lot of time thinking and praying….it allows me to give order to things and begin to let things go…to give them over to God (a higher power, the universe if that is your preference). 

I tend to be a control freak. I like to solve problems and make things better for people at least what I think is better for them. But sometimes it is okay to just sit with the trouble, to struggle, to climb a mountain, walk a long way. It helps one to learn. It’s how babies learn to walk. And young people learn to cope. And the list goes on to where we learn to say that eternal goodbye. 

On this journey I have seen people who are old, disabled, fit, young, healthy, sick, happy, sad—all walking on a journey…no these people were not still because you can’t be still and make your way to Santiago but you can get still in your heart, soul, and mind and begin to listen in new ways as God speaks to you. 
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Buen Camino 

Day 23

“One of my friends reminded me of these wise words: “If you forgot to bring it then you didn’t need it” Perhaps this is difficult for us to ponder especially in a culture where we have so many things at our fingertips…but what if you didn’t…” 
How true. When you are walking daily and have your belongings on your back you appreciate this thought even more. 

Lindsay and I started in Salamanca with a large suitcase and two smaller bags not to mention our backpacks. We pushed them and carried them all the way to the bus station. Then all the way through Madrid. And after that to the train station to Pamplona and all the way through Pamplona to the bus station to St Jean Pied de Port up the hill so that we could send the large suitcase and the two smaller ones on to Santiago. It was challenging. 

And even with all of that our backpacks were too heavy. Two days of carrying told us that. The third day we decided to send them on to Pamplona and just walk. It was a big hill day so the heavy packs would have slowed us down and hurt our feet and backs. We sent 8ks/18 pounds on to Santiago (that included my boots which I decided not to walk in because a blister had started). 
We have let go of a few more items that just were weighing us down and we weren’t using. I have given away medical supplies that others needed more. And there are things in my pack that I haven’t used so when we get to Leon I will lighten my load a little more. 

I haven’t felt like there was something I wish I had brought that I didn’t have. 
Less is more especially when you are carrying it around every day. And it gives you empathy for others at least it does me. 

“If you forgot to bring it then you didn’t need it.”
Buen Camino 

Day 22

Sure On This Shining Night Sure on this shining night

Of star made shadows round, 

Kindness must watch for me 

This side the ground. 

The late year lies down the north. 

All is healed, all is health.

High summer holds the earth. 

Hearts all whole. 

Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand’ring far alone
Of shadows on the stars. 

The poem comes from a book by James Agee entitled “Permit Me Voyage” published 1934 by Yale University Press © by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

There’s something that happens on the Camino that is very healing…transforming may be a better word. You begin to let go of chains and past hurts. Oh to be sure the process is slow but it begins. And if you embrace it then I believe a true healing takes places, a deeper healing. 


It’s the slow, steady daily walking; a simple routine, nourishment for the body and soul that helps this. It is walking away from those things and people who cause you to stumble and fall or hold you back, which is not easy but at times necessary. 
I saw this on the Camino the last time and I’ve seen it again this time. It can happen that you walk with someone for a time and the pace you are walking is no longer in step and it is time to say goodbye. 
It’s difficult for us to think about saying goodbye or moving on, even from bad things but that is where healing begins, where life begins again. 
Sure On This Shining Night 

Sure on this shining night

Of star made shadows round, 

Kindness must watch for me 

This side the ground. 

The late year lies down the north. 

All is healed, all is health.

High summer holds the earth. 

Hearts all whole. 

Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand’ring far alone

Of shadows on the stars. 

Buen Camino.