From the Camino: Lugo is so very impressive. Its walls were constructed by the Romans in the third century, and they are fairly intact to this day, though there are some places that you can see where they have been repaired.
Just before I made my way through the massive stone gates into the city, I passed a way marker that affected me somehow even more than the antiquity and grandeur of the walls. Having walked for four and a half weeks, I finally reached that point where I was 100 kilometers from Santiago. I only had six more days of walking to Santiago. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about that. How meaningful, after all those weeks of walking, should this moment be?
On the Primitivo, this is the equivalent of the town of Sarria. To receive the Compostella, one needs to walk 100 kilometers. As a result, there were some extra pilgrims along the way, but not an impressive amount until Melide, where the Camino Frances joins its older sister route, the Primitivo. From that point on, the route was filled with pilgrims, many of whom are doing the most popular segment of all, from Sarria to Santiago.
Luke 12:22-28 – 7 Many say, “May we see better times! Lord, show us the light of your face!” 8 But you have given my heart more joy than they have when grain and wine abound. In peace I will lie down and fall asleep, for you alone, Lord, make me secure.”
For reflection: We humans, in our desire to analyze, categorize and understand the world around us, bracket things in ways that only appear to have meaning, but it’s a created meaning.
With our ten fingers and ten toes, we’ve created a base 10 mathematics that prejudices us into organizing numbers into decades and hundreds and thousands. We have other divisions that are somewhat less arbitrary, for example the fact that the earth circles the sun every 365¼ days, forming a “year.” This division helps us understand natural seasons, and weather cycles, but how critical is that, really, or that year’s twelve months, for determining meaningful dating? We have all agreed that this particular division will be meaningful to us, but we could just as easily have divided the year into 5 equal segments of 73 days each.
Is a 50th wedding anniversary, which is important, really any more special than a 51st? In our self-care routines, is there really anything magical about 10,000 steps in any given day?
These aren’t moral questions, but there is an element of freedom and joy we might miss if we regulate ourselves too tightly to the arbitrary. And I do not suggest that one shouldn’t celebrate the rounded numbers we like so much. Quite the contrary, in fact, I suggest any reason to celebrate is a good thing.
So why limit our opportunities for celebration. Isn’t it worth celebrating that you are 237 kilometers from Santiago, or 74, or 32? This day, given the right disposition, might be the most joyous day of your life. Don’t deny it that chance because you’re not looking for it, or because it doesn’t carry some artificial significance.
If you woke well rested, or your cafecito was particularly good, or the weather is so pleasant, or your companions are making you laugh, or the guidebook says that there’s a special gustatory treat in the next town that you’re looking forward to, have your own fiesta of the heart. If you can walk with deep calmness, or peace, in health, or with satisfaction, on this day of no special significance, with no hallmark of distance or anniversary of temporal substance, make the most of it!
God finds pleasure in your happiness. Cooperate with this.
