Challenges to the Inner Pilgrim Spirit

[davebugg]

For awhile now, it has seemed as if challenges and irritations had become far too large a part of day-to-day life.

Among life's bumpy road: unusually high stress from a consulting job that required inhuman patience; a month where we put our home on the market and moved a lot of stuff into storage, but then changed our minds and moved stuff back into the house; Jill working extraordinary long and forced overtime as an RN at our hospital PLUS working the community COVID vaccine clinic; concerns and worry about our kids. . . .

Then today, I found a section of fencing had been torn down from two days of high winds with speeds gusting to 66+ MPH. Truffle, our hard headed miniature Schnauzer-Poodle mutt had escaped before I spotted the damage. After retrieving Truffle, I went back outside to the location of the downed fence section, and threw a mild tantrum with choice expletives. Wow.

A 4 year-old, having a fit in the grocery aisle because mommy won't buy Cap'n Crunch would still have been the more mature of the two of us..

Afterwards, I was embarrassed. The only saving grace was that the backyard area is isolated from the nearest neighbors or casual walkers.

I took a break and watched a short YouTube video showing an overview of a pilgrimage on the Camino Frances. I realized how much I miss the Camino for its simplicity and ability to allow an undivided focus on spiritual things. Then I dug out a Daily Devotional book, and found my favorite chapter which helped to turn my thoughts back to what was important to me.

I may fall down while striving to live up to my ideals; but thankfully, I have the choice to get back up and continue forward.

-----------------------------------------------------------

It’s a New Day: The Choice is Yours​

"It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice.

Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical… the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace. I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience. I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite Him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness. I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness. I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness. Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control. I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful-ness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest."

Excerpted from Let the Journey Begin by Max Lucado

 

[t2andreo]

Excellent post Dave! Thanks for sharing with your other family.

If I may, I would like to suggest that you may need a Camino to help you re-center. I have done so in past years. It works.

My Caminos, usually done solo, provide time for introspection, mediation, prayer and just being in the moment. Hence my “prescription” is to start planning for 2022.

I am planning a segment of the VDLP for May - June 2022.

Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[CarolamS]

Two excellent posts.
I certainly find planning a Camino a great help.
I like the idea on a different thread that advance training should also include stopping in cafes Sometimes we forget to take breaks!
Buen camino to you both.

 

[SeñorJacques]

Although I've yet to experience my first Camino, I already have faith in the maxim that "the Camino provides" - and look, this morning the Camino Forum provided exactly what I needed to be reminded of today. Thank you, @davebugg!

 

[malingerer]

For awhile now, it has seemed as if challenges and irritations had become far too large a part of day-to-day life.

Among life's bumpy road: unusually high stress from a consulting job that required inhuman patience; a month where we put our home on the market and moved a lot of stuff into storage, but then changed our minds and moved stuff back into the house; Jill working extraordinary long and forced overtime as an RN at our hospital PLUS working the community COVID vaccine clinic; concerns and worry about our kids. . . .

Then today, I found a section of fencing had been torn down from two days of high winds with speeds gusting to 66+ MPH. Truffle, our hard headed miniature Schnauzer-Poodle mutt had escaped before I spotted the damage. After retrieving Truffle, I went back outside to the location of the downed fence section, and threw a mild tantrum with choice expletives. Wow.

A 4 year-old, having a fit in the grocery aisle because mommy won't buy Cap'n Crunch would still have been the more mature of the two of us..

Afterwards, I was embarrassed. The only saving grace was that the backyard area is isolated from the nearest neighbors or casual walkers.

I took a break and watched a short YouTube video showing an overview of a pilgrimage on the Camino Frances. I realized how much I miss the Camino for its simplicity and ability to allow an undivided focus on spiritual things. Then I dug out a Daily Devotional book, and found my favorite chapter which helped to turn my thoughts back to what was important to me.

I may fall down while striving to live up to my ideals; but thankfully, I have the choice to get back up and continue forward.

-----------------------------------------------------------

It’s a New Day: The Choice is Yours​

"It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice.

Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical… the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace. I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience. I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite Him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness. I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness. I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness. Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control. I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful-ness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest."

Excerpted from Let the Journey Begin by Max Lucado

have to disagree with quite a bit! I live on my own and thoroughly enjoy my tantrums I am also very human. I do not wear hair shirts for pyjamas and I need a new pillow ! as to all the choice, only a robot (sanctified of course) could venture a few never mind the litany prescribed. IMHO OF COURSE. That is why I prefer to avoid pilgrims where possible and walk alone. That way, when I fall over, I can eff and blind without offending anyone. I can even curse in sign language and confuse the saintly. That is why I also love the pre-dawn dark when I am alone with that which is and who forgives my failings without all the faff and my Guardian Angel picks me up again for another stage.

Vaya con Dios and buen Camino

Samarkand.

 

[davebugg]

have to disagree with quite a bit! I live on my own and thoroughly enjoy my tantrums I am also very human. I do not wear hair shirts for pyjamas and I need a new pillow ! as to all the choice, only a robot (sanctified of course) could venture a few never mind the litany prescribed. IMHO OF COURSE. That is why I prefer to avoid pilgrims where possible and walk alone. That way, when I fall over, I can eff and blind without offending anyone. I can even curse in sign language and confuse the saintly. That is why I also love the pre-dawn dark when I am alone with that which is and who forgives my failings without all the faff and my Guardian Angel picks me up again for another stage.

Vaya con Dios and buen Camino

Samarkand.

I love how you found a silver lining. As one who is introverted, I get where you are coming from. Perhaps some day we can walk alone together.

 

[kelleymac]

My son and I would start our camino mornings in prayer, often singing "Be Thou my Vision". Here is a version that I came upon during the past year, and it lent me the grace and feelings I had while walking the camino. I thought you might like it:

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi @davebugg
I’m pleased you remembered that ‘this family ‘ is always here to support when you’re troubled & (need a helping hand ) .. thanks for your post. I’ve been having similar feelings.
I might add that if a camino isn’t feasible at this moment -then ‘Plan B ‘ works well also. My son (far away in USA)., is over burdened at the moment and I reminded him of ‘plan b’ to take a walk alone; and let those troubled thoughts bubble over and out. I’m preaching to the converted here of course ,but we are often too busy - all of us .

@kelleymac … I really enjoyed that YouTube video. grounding and uplifting at the same time.

Annie

 

[William Garza]

The Sacred "alone"

Sacrosanct and introspective inner sanctum.

The Holy of Holies.

Inviolate and immesurably silent..the sacred dwelling and shelter inside against all storms,toil and privations.

My key...was traveling long and far enough to burn away the dross of acumulated ego artifacts and simply be.

Here i sit with broken body and unyielding spirit against the day I find myself...out there again.

The acummulated errors of living out of commune with the road has a ready curse word and anger for simple things that really are not worth it.

How long must I wait I asked..

Yes..
was the answer