From the Camino: I was staying in an upstairs room in an albergue/pension, several flights up a skinny building – the third floor in Spain is the fourth floor in the USA. In Spain, you enter on zero and go up to the first floor. I don’t remember where the pension was exactly – somewhere in Asturias, I think. I remember that it had been a very long, wearying day of walking, and my appearance must have been something awful.
Crawling into the reception room, and taking off my backpack was such a relief, only to discover that my room was high above me. It was silly that a short climb, after all that walking, should have daunted me, but a look of dismay must have passed over my face when I discovered my room was on the third floor, with no elevator.
The woman who received me saw my distress and moved quickly to pick up my backpack to carry it up the steps for me. She was quick, strong, determined, in her mid-70s, at least fifteen years older than I was, and had a very compassionate heart for a tired pilgrim. I was dismayed, grateful and embarrassed all at the same time.
But I was not surprised. Everywhere I went I found unexpected moments of kindness, from fellow pilgrims, from wait staff in restaurants and cafés, from shop keepers and the people managing the places where I slept.
There were many gestures, small and large, that served both to edify and instruct me on the goodness of people.
Gen 18:1-8 – 1 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oak of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. 2 Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, 3 he said: “Sir, if it please you, do not go on past your servant. 4 Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest under the tree. 5 Now that you have come to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” “Very well,” they replied, “do as you have said. 6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick, three measures of bran flour! Knead it and make bread.” 7 He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. 8 Then he got some curds and milk, as well as the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them, waiting on them under the tree while they ate.”
For reflection: Be open on the way to unexpected hospitality. I have found over-and-over, that an unsmiling Spanish or Portuguese face often accompanied the kindest gestures.
It may not happen every day, but it will happen just often enough, that someone’s unexpected kindness will be the sweet grace that moves you forward. Accept the kindness of others as blessed by the Lord. Be humble in the face of inadequate assistance. Be grateful for ordinary service. Allow yourself to be moved deeply by exceptional care.
Let your own reflections on the kindness of others move you to the same spirit of care for others. The Letter to the Hebrews, reflecting on Abraham’s wonderful sense of hospitality reflected in Genesis 18, encourages us: “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect hospitality for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” In that spirit, it’s not enough to receive. Go looking for that moment when you are the one required to offer hospitality. Be quick, yourself, to share water, a slice of cheese or salami, bandages, a hand up an incline, the use of your penknife or phone, and maybe even a smile.
