This journey of a lifetime reminded me that every day is part of our journey. Santiago de Compostela is beautiful. The grandeur and opulence of the church is indescribable. I so enjoyed the Pilgrim mass particularly the sign of peace. The swinging of the botufumeiro brought tears to my eyes. The singing of the nun during the service was moving. Being with others, many who had walked for weeks, was mind blowing. Everyone's reasons are different, everyone's reactions and experiences unique. For me, I realized that it doesn't take an outrageous pilgrimage to bring us to the point of gratitude and devotion and penance. It can be found in the everyday experience if we remain open. And for so many, remaining open is petrifying. It is how I try and live, with awesome results and experiences thus far.I greatly enjoy traveling, love new experiences, yummy food/drink and meeting people who are different. As we live out our days, we are enriched by the other souls we meet along the way and we should be mindful that we are to enrich the lives of others also. That is our calling.
At this point in time, I am writing to reflect on the past year. I cannot believe that Eddie and I have completed our pilgrimage. I can remember that at this time last year I was planning and checking out airfares, watching the exchange rates, planning the details where we would stay, what we would pack... I was planning excitedly, enjoying every moment of anticipation.
I sit here now feeling so grateful that I achieved this goal of mine. Oddly enough, I want to go back and do it again...perhaps do the full Camino from St. Jean Pied de Port, perhaps the Camino Ingles... I now KNOW that all I have to do is commit in word and intent and I can make it happen. Two and a half months after returning from our trip, our lives were rocked. Our son (my stepson) had been undergoing treatment for leukemia--having been diagnosed in Oct. of 2012. At the time of diagnosis, the shock of CANCER in someone who was just 30 years old was devastating. But faith and hope buoyed us up and, in some sense, perhaps going to Fatima to pray and to dedicate such intense prayer as during the walk on the Camino, maybe I was hoping for extra favor... to be spared the experience of watching my husband lose his second youngest son. To be spared watching my own son grieve the loss of his brother. To spare me having to be the strong one for them when I just wanted to be a basket case. But God had other plans. Leukemia sucks. Cancer sucks. Death , I truly believe, is a release to a place that is better. A place where there is no pain and there is no suffering. I believe there is just love, all enveloping, comforting, peace giving LOVE. And we who are left behind suffer and feel incredible pain and emptiness. But when we remember LOVE we can heal. Somewhat... |
AuthorSome names I go by... mom, honey, sister, friend. Sadly, I am no longer anyone's daughter. I am a Special Ed preschool teacher by profession... lover of life by choice! Archives
March 2014
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