From the Camino: As I walked, I took to posting my reflection of the day on my parish’s Facebook page. Many parishioners followed me as I journeyed through Spain. I was walking by myself, but with their kind support, I never felt alone.
At the end of my first day, overwhelmed with excitement, I wrote: “Today was my first day, both beautiful and grueling. I found my first way sign, a yellow arrow (flecha amarilla) roughly painted on the pole of a street light. I took a picture of it, and I was off. The views were amazing, and I found three churches/shrines to rest my feet and pray for some of your beautiful intentions. Love from your priest, who missed you very much this morning, Fr. Patrick.”
Jer 6:16 — Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
For reflection: So, today you begin. Perhaps you’ve walked many miles, up and down mountains in preparation. Perhaps you’ve read blog posts and books on the subject. It’s likely that you’ve gone over the route many times, and very carefully chosen the items you’re going to carry today. It doesn’t matter. You’re still not ready…we never are. So make allowances for everything for which you cannot know, for which there is no plan.
You might want to begin with the intentional practice of walking in the holy presence of God. Be sure to invite the Lord in on your very first steps.
There will be both small things that will catch your notice, and large ones that will demand your attention. By all means, treasure moments with photos, if that is your way, but don’t let the process of taking pictures distract you from the present moment, and even less, from that holy Presence.
Let your Camino be with the Lord. It’s a conscious decision that doesn’t require a lot of inner talk. By all means, carry on as much conversation about finding the Lord’s way as you would like. Then again, perhaps it is enough, to intentionally be in God’s holy presence in silence?
The Lord’s voice, in Jeremiah’s word, invites you to ask for the ancient paths, the good ways, that you might walk in them and find rest. The advice, to be watchful at crossroads, is wise. You’ll inevitably take the wrong way somewhere along the Camino. No matter. Let that be part of the adventure. Who knows what wonderful thing you might see on the “wrong” path. If you can keep, though, to the “ancient paths, where the good way lies,” there are some advantages for your feet and legs.
