lizlane
Small Town Girl, Small Town World
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances 2019
"Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail."
This book, while it is not a book about walking the Way of St. James, is a great book for anyone who is examining their reasons for walking a spiritual journey. The author shares his experience of walking the entire Appalachian Trail, over 2000 miles, following the loss of his wife to cancer.
I read it because I was asked by a friend: "Why do you want to do this (go on pilgrimage)? Why do you need to go to Spain to have a spiritual experience? Why not just walk the Appalachian Trail?"
I could only answer him "I feel called and by feel, I mean deeply with every fiber of my being, and by called, I mean I must respond." Yet the other questions were valid. The truth is that I don't need to go to Santiago to have a spiritual experience, I have lots of them daily in my own front yard. The AT is closer, no plane ticket required, no need to learn a foreign language, and offers a stunning beauty of its own. So I bought the book and read it.
Thankfully, the author not only can write well, making the book enjoyable, but actually did all the hard work. It was educational. The AT offers shelters, hiker hostels and all-you-can-eat buffets, work-for-beds/meals stays and similar comraderie, "losing" unwanted travelers, reuniting with friends one didn't mean to lose.
While I found it inspiring that God lead him to a different kind of spiritual journey, what I found most relatable and relevant was the drive. This was something he had to do. I can relate to that. I enjoyed every page of the book but at the end, I can shake my head affirmatively, the AT is just not for me! I have absolutely no desire to walk any part of it, even though a small section could be fun and certainly closer to home. Even as a Catholic, I don't feel lead to go to Rome or Jerusalem (though I hear they're beautiful and that could be fun, too). I will see Spain, God providing!
I am firmly rooted in the truth that the invitation of the Spirit to the Way of St. James is a spiritual experience all in itself and that the opportunity to walk it is a fundamentally each soul's response to God himself. (In whatever way that might be for you.) I wonder if others who journey to Santiago and are seeking more of a physical challenge might not be better suited for the AT!
This book, while it is not a book about walking the Way of St. James, is a great book for anyone who is examining their reasons for walking a spiritual journey. The author shares his experience of walking the entire Appalachian Trail, over 2000 miles, following the loss of his wife to cancer.
I read it because I was asked by a friend: "Why do you want to do this (go on pilgrimage)? Why do you need to go to Spain to have a spiritual experience? Why not just walk the Appalachian Trail?"
I could only answer him "I feel called and by feel, I mean deeply with every fiber of my being, and by called, I mean I must respond." Yet the other questions were valid. The truth is that I don't need to go to Santiago to have a spiritual experience, I have lots of them daily in my own front yard. The AT is closer, no plane ticket required, no need to learn a foreign language, and offers a stunning beauty of its own. So I bought the book and read it.
Thankfully, the author not only can write well, making the book enjoyable, but actually did all the hard work. It was educational. The AT offers shelters, hiker hostels and all-you-can-eat buffets, work-for-beds/meals stays and similar comraderie, "losing" unwanted travelers, reuniting with friends one didn't mean to lose.
While I found it inspiring that God lead him to a different kind of spiritual journey, what I found most relatable and relevant was the drive. This was something he had to do. I can relate to that. I enjoyed every page of the book but at the end, I can shake my head affirmatively, the AT is just not for me! I have absolutely no desire to walk any part of it, even though a small section could be fun and certainly closer to home. Even as a Catholic, I don't feel lead to go to Rome or Jerusalem (though I hear they're beautiful and that could be fun, too). I will see Spain, God providing!
I am firmly rooted in the truth that the invitation of the Spirit to the Way of St. James is a spiritual experience all in itself and that the opportunity to walk it is a fundamentally each soul's response to God himself. (In whatever way that might be for you.) I wonder if others who journey to Santiago and are seeking more of a physical challenge might not be better suited for the AT!
