Thanks for sharing
@Lucyk and hope you are feeling better.
You made the right call without doubt!
I recall reading a similar story last year, in the same area.........
Having to go home, is something we all dread I think.
We push ourselves on and hope things will get better.
Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.
Hopefully you'll get back to the Camino one day soon.
I'll share a story that I have told here before.
On my first Camino I really struggled physically. Mainly because I was unfit and overweight and had injured myself training.
After about 15 kms each day my Achilles Tendons would be screaming at me.
But with stretching, icing, rest, meds.......I would press on.
I honestly did not expect to make it to Santiago.
I just enjoyed each day as it came, as if it might be my last on the Camino..........
But it was not the physical strain that had me thinking of going home.
It was
the emotional strain.......... Don't underestimate it.
Just prior to Leon............I had a tough choice to make.
It was about 2 hours out of Leon……. (the short version)
I’d hit a real low point. I really felt my Camino was coming to an end. That I needed to go home. That it was selfish to continue this journey. I was struggling, really struggling. (My wife was home alone dealing with her sick Father) I had been grappling with this decision for days.......
I just stopped at the side of the path.
I dropped to my knees with tears in my eyes.
I grasped a rosary that a Catholic friend had loaned me, as I did each day when saying my thank you….
I looked up and asked. “
OK. How is this supposed to work? Do you give me a sign or something?
I’m really struggling with this decision. I feel like I should go home. But should I complete this journey? Over to You……….”
Not really feeling any better, I stood up and continued along the path…….
ONE.
After about 300 metres, I saw an old man with a dog walking towards me. He was stooped a little, probably about 70 years of age. He looked a bit like a Shepherd.
As we got closer, I glanced up. Looked at him and said Buenos Dias. As he replied he smiled and our eyes met.
A chill went down my spine and I stopped in my tracks, as he walked past. After a few moments I turned to look the way he had gone. He also turned and gave me a wave.
The hair stood up on the back of my neck. During that brief greeting and warm smile, the eyes looking back at me were unmistakable. They were the loving eyes of my late Father.
Wow. What just happened I thought….. That was a very clear encouragement, from above, from beyond? Who knows? But it was Dad behind that smile! 100%…..
TWO.
As I was reflecting on this potential ‘sign’ I started up a small hill. I paused for reflection and to take a drink. Not 300 metres beyond where I had seen the man.
My phone rang! Due to the problems at home I made sure I was easily contactable. Though no one normally called me. I usually checked in with them when I could.
So most days I spoke to my wife, by calling her, not her calling me.. (The issue at home was….. that her Father was very sick….)
It was my wife. Her voice was really upbeat and lifting. I asked her how her Dad was, and that I was thinking I should come home.
No way she said! How can you help anyway? You’re not a Heart Surgeon! Finish the journey ‘for us’ she said…..
I so needed that call. That call. Right then………
Feeling much better, I now quickened my step towards Leon. Surely only another hour away.
THREE
With a bit more of a spring in my step, I started off along the gravel track….
Not two minutes later. I heard a familiar voice behind me. An Aussie Twang…..
“Hey Robo, how're you going mate”!
It was Rob from Melbourne whom I hadn’t seen in well over a week. A chirpy character with whom I’d shared some long and deep conversations whilst walking and over a glass or two of Vino Tinto…..
He clapped me on the back as he came level and we shared our journeys of where we’d been and who we’d seen since we last met. His pace was faster than mine and it was a struggle to keep up…., with my achilles injuries. But I needed this connection.. ….. Right now I needed it.
So I quickened my pace for 15 minutes or so whilst we chatted and then bid him farewell, expecting to see him down the track at some stage. I did, about 2 weeks later……
I paused for a moment as he ‘took off’ down the track with effortless long strides……
What the heck had just happened!!!!!
In a time of need I had asked for guidance. And in the space of 5 minutes, I was given a sign. One…..Two…..Three!
Amazing things can happen on the Camino………
I was all set to go home once I reached Leon............