Today I walked into Santiago. It´s official. I received my Compostela. :-) You must walk at least 100 km of the 600 km trail to receive a Compostela. I walked about 115.
I'll be thinking about this for a long time. Enjoyed the walking (most of it). The last several km were steadily up hill and it was hot. Unpleasant.
Another life lesson walking the Camino. I think this is #8:
8. Watch for signs. All along the trail there are yellow arrows and St. Jame's shells which are signs directing the 'peregrinos,' the 'pilgrims.' Walking alone I need to watch for these signs. Believe it or not you can miss them - especially when walking through towns and cities. It´s also easy to be thinking about something else and not watching for the signs. This led me to think about looking for ´signs from G-d.´ If you watch with an eye of faith, signs are everywhere. Goodness, G-d´s Goodness, bubbling to the surface of life.
Serendipitously I brought with me a little book by Fr. Alexander Schmemann, an Orthodox priest and theologian. It´s called For the Life of the World. He writes about joy as a sign of G-d´s Presence, and G-d´s future. Joy points beyond itself:
"A ray of sun on a gloomy factory wall, the smile on a human face, each rainy morning, the fatigue each evening - all is now referred to this joy, and not only points (my emphasis) beyond itself, but can also be a sign, a mark, a secret ´presence´of that joy.¨
Here are some signs I saw in the last 24 hours or so:
1. A grandfather holding his grandson and both have a look of pure love and affection.
2. Children laughing, chasing pidgeons in the market square. NOT to hurt them, which would be a sign of something else, but to delight in them.
3. Two young lovers walking arm in arm whispering and smiling.
4. An older couple walking arm in arm chatting.
5. People singing, dancing, families eating together.
6. Flowers, they are everywhere on this leg of the Camino at this time of year.
7. Human kindness to a wandering American peregrino.
When I paid attention, I began to notice.
One of the things you notice in a Catholic country is that Mary and the Saints are very popular. Last night I stayed at a hotel which had a small chapel dedicated to Mary. On the altar was written: "Yo soy Pan de la Vida." At first, I thought it was speaking about Mary. Which made me a bit theologically uncomfortable. ´There we go again,´ I thought, ´the Catholics placing Mary where Jesus should be.´
But then I saw the Tablernacle in which the consecrated Host is kept and realized that the quote was from John, "Í am the Bread of Life." The theological point was that Mary is the Mother of the Bread of Life. Through her spiritual sustenance for all humanity took flesh - became Bread. I´d never really thought of that. She is the Mother of the Bread of Life.´ I need to think and pray more about this.
Buen Camino!
Pastor Riesen
