How does it feel to be looking for something for a long time, and then to see your first glimpse?
I’d been wanting to make a pilgrimage to walk the Camino de Santiago for decades. My favorite Gospel is John’s and I’ve often wondered what it would have been like for the two brothers, John and James to have followed Jesus and to have been counted among his closest disciples.
Did it feel like work, or a mystery that couldn’t be solved? Were they amazed at the miracles, did they really believe?
I’d been walking for five days. Although the destination was clear, the path was not, as each day had its own challenges. Some days the challenge was the distance, rocky terrain or rainy weather, but every day had a similar challenge: unlimited time without distraction.
I had not realized how “busy” my mind had become at home, flitting from one topic to another, all the bad and good together without room for anything else. But walking for 9 hours in one day was the cure.
As my mind began to empty without constant distractions, I kept focus on my faith with unceasing prayer (the Our Fathers and Hail Marys I learned as a youth), and on my steps, counting each one to one hundred over and over again. I realized that counting my steps was also a prayer. After 12 years of joint pain post breast cancer, I was finally relieved of the relentless pain.
I walked alone into Santiago but I could tell I was close to the end of my destination. I looked at a map and knew that I would still walk through the entire town to get to the Cathedral.
I passed albergues, restaurants and bars. It wasn’t the most inspiring end to the long journey, but I was thankful to see other perigrinos to confirm I was still headed in the right direction.
And then, there it was. I looked up among the urban landscape and saw the spire! It was my first glimpse of my destination after a long, long journey.
I walked where the faithful have traveled since the 9th century, with over 300,000 in 2017 taking one of the various routes, but all ending at the Cathedral. I “hugged St. James” (Abrazo de Apostol) a tradition where each pilgrim is greeted by the hospitable St. James with a hug as we come into his house. Along with a hug, we say a prayer for our needs, the needs of others, or our thankfulness for knowing Christ.
Tradition has it that the journey begins at one’s home and ends at the Cathedral.
It is a journey into oneself, alone. My Camino taught me a lot about myself.
Blessings, my friend,
Agatha