Listening

The guidebook outlines a long 27 km haul to Terradilloes de los Templarios.  And it about killed me the last time.   So I didn't listen to the guidebook.  I listened to my body.  I know my pace is about 20 km a day.  So I stopped in Ledigos after 23.5 km.  That was enough for today.

The Camino on this section is long, flat and straight.  It follows the old Roman road.  They had good engineers so that we can walk on it 2000 years later.  The countryside opens up to the horizon and there is little in the way of shade as the warm sun beats down.  There is plenty of time and opportunity to listen to the quiet within.

Two days of walking has me listening as well to the aches as they begin.  As I arrived today, my knees and feet were sore.  It brings back memories.  :)  Most of the pilgrims at this stage have limps, blisters, calluses or other battle scars.  But I will catch up in no time. 

Today also included the joyful listening to pilgrim stories.  As paths cross time and again, little conversations start and build.  Monica who is a nurse from Majorca and Mark from Las Vegas both shared a little of what brought them on Camino.  And it's always a hoot when people learn that I am a priest.  

Old friends

A gorgeous day and a blessed walk of 20 km to Carrion de los Condes.  On this first day of walking I kept meeting old friends from my Camino two years ago.  There are the yellow arrows pointing the way.  The flowers in bloom.  The simple path through the countryside. In town there are red plastic chairs that announce the presence of a cafe.

The walk today included a long stretch by a river.  As I was shaded by the trees, I was serenaded by the birds overhead and frogs in the water.  The wind sang through the leaves of the poplars.  It was just lovely. 

And of course I renewed my friendship with my favorite foods....tostadas for breakfast, an egg bocadillo for snack, an empanada for lunch washed down by café con leche. 

And as the miles of open fields go by, the quiet returns as well.  That dearest friend of all, the Silence within, that leaves me full as she empties me out.  So blessed!

Tonight the local parish has Mass at 8pm that includes a choir of Augustinian nuns.  At 5:30pm, the Sisters of Charity who run the albergue where I am staying have evening prayer in their chapel.  Tis blessed to spend time with the One who calls me here and leads me on.  

It is good to be with old friends.

Arrived

After a plane, a train and a bus, I arrived in Fromista.  I will start walking in the morning to Santiago en Compostela. 

The trip was delightfully uneventful. Delta did a lovely job with the overnight flight to Madrid.   Then Renfe ran its route to Palencia.  I crossed the street to the bus station, had lunch and took the afternoon bus to Fromista.  Since I haven't slept much since leaving Atlanta, I am mostly exhausted.   Off to take a nap.  Then I am hoping to celebrate Mass this evening in St. Martin church, the beautiful Romanesque church in town. 

It is good to be here....good to be on pilgrimage.

Vamos

It is finally time to go for a walk.  The plane is here at the gate and soon we will be boarding for Spain.

Dios te bendiga!

Walking

I am going walking in Spain again this summer. One of the pieces of unfinished business from 2014 was seeing and walking through the Holy Door in Santiago.  In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, it is open.  I don't have to wait for the Jacobean holy year in 2021. 

And I am looking forward to the walk...To the quiet...to the encounter with the Lord.  Please pray for me. 

Luck of the Irish

St. Patrick's Day dawned bright and sunny. After all the rain we have had, it was nice to have a spring day.  After working some in the yard at the rectory,  I was returning the tools to the church when I received a delightful  blessing. As I was walking along in the parking lot with a shovel over one shoulder and a bag of trash in the other hand,  Steve Lefebvre drove up with a truck load of supplies for the garden. "You look all ready to help with the planting", he said. And so I was reminded that they were trying to plant potatoes before the rain returned later in the week.  What a joy to help plant 4 rows of potatoes!  There is a special blessing in working with the soil and growing a garden.  I was tickled at planting taters on the holy day.... my inner leprechaun was dancing a jig. 

As the spring comes, we will be planting many crops over the next few weeks.  Please join us on Saturday mornings starting around 9am.  Many graces await!

Hunger Walk

It's been many months since I have posted.  Yesterday I took a walk for a wonderful cause....putting an end to hunger in our community through the good work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. On a beautiful spring day I dusted off my walking shoes from the Camino and joined thousands of fellow Atlantans for Hunger Walk 2015.  We were a good group from St. Matthew's and we exceeded our goal for fundraising.   Well done!