Ernesto.IT
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
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I can see that you do not understand the meaning of this pilgrimage "This thing" does not need your support.Gotta support this thing, otherwise it might not take off.
I can see that you do not understand the meaning of this pilgrimage "This thing" does not need your support.
Thankyou for sharing your thoughts and I wish you good health and a speedy return to the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Buen CaminoI have hiked the Camino pilgrimage route 5 different times - 2003, 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017. The last three times were in the winter by myself. I am a Catholic priest. I have had four different assignments in the last nine years. I am serving in a diocese that is far from close family and friends. Going back to the Camino Frances is like seeing a close friend again. The Camino gives me encouragement and energy. The last assignment I had, which lasted almost five years, was very taxing on me. If I had not gone on those three Camino hikes of prayer, reflection, and solitude these past three years, I don't think I would have made it. As it was, mentally, spiritually, and physically, I was very close to my breaking point. I am currently still recovering from some health challenges which prevent me from going on the Camino this year. If it was not for that, I would be back again this year, for sure. I hope to hike the mission trail in California one day, since I grew up in southern California. But, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela will always be near to my heart, and I will never tire of it. It will continue to draw me back. So much of what touches me on the Camino cannot be put into words.
When you do, keep the Indian perspective in mind. It was not tea and scones for them!I hope to hike the mission trail in California one day,
For me it is a wonderful solo journey allowing plenty of time to contemplate while walking with the option of having interesting people to talk to and share food with in the evenings.I am not home yet after completing the Camino Frances at the end of October. I am taking some time out to reflect before getting home but while I have reflecting, I have been asking myself why would anyone want to do it again and again and again. Now you are home what is it that makes you want to go back? And I'm not talking about the people who just do a section each year until they have finished it. That I can completely understand but those who walked the whole thing or most of the time in one go. Why not do another trial or something different?
awesome. post!!!I was making a joke, but you have no idea how right you are. I still don't understand the meaning of Camino. It's been almost 4 years now since I walked, and it haunts me to this day that I still feel like I never "got" the Camino.
Not a damn thing about it makes any sense. Why in the world would I feel called to do this? I'm about the worst Catholic there is. There are a million other things I could have been called to do, and better suited for, but nope, I have to fly halfway around the world and walk 500 miles in a country I had no real interest in or any connection to. Spanish history? Who cares? The culture? Bullfighting and getting a 4 hour nap in the middle of the workday? Big deal. Oh, and supposedly the remains of an apostle are there. Sure... I'm reminded a quote about supposed pieces of the True Cross, how if all of them were collected, it would be enough wood to build a ship. And on top of that, I'm not even a St. James guy. Peter was always my favorite apostle. Or just Saints in general, then I'm a St. Dismas guy.
And that totally ignores the physical aspects of it. Me, walking 500 miles! I get winded walking to the refrigerator!
Oh, and then there is whole social thing. Pilgrims are supposed to warm and open to everyone. Warm and open are not adjectives used to describe my personality. Cold and introverted, now those are adjectives I can get behind. Along with negative, surly, grumpy, moody, selfish, uncaring, and jerk.
Yet my fat, grumpy butt was called to spend a year working 60 and 70 hour weeks, doing hard, physical labor, just so I could save up enough to do this insane walk. And despite my limitations, I made it. And not only did I make it, you could almost say I thrived on the Camino.
I made friends from around the world. I held conversations with locals even though I only knew a handful of Spanish words. I came to see that we're not so different. Sitting at a bar in the Ledigos, seeing all the people gather to watch a futbol match. Same thing happens in the tiny towns where I'm from, except it's football on the TV. Conversations were probably the same too. Talking about dying rural towns, farm prices, families, etc.
And spiritually... well, they'll never put me down for sainthood, that's for sure. But I feel like I did draw closer to the Almighty. And I even added a few new saint friends, like St. James and Santo Domingo. And I came to a conclusion about the whole relics thing. It doesn't matter. Even if that box has the earthly remains of Santiago, it's not what is important about him. Is he in that box? Who knows? But I can tell you he is with every pilgrim who hears the call to walk.
And physically... I made it to Santiago in 35 days. My only major injury was dealing with a big blister for a couple of days. I saw so many pilgrims, who were in much better shape than me, succum to far worse. Some were forced to rest for several days at a time. Others even had to cut their pilgrimage short. But me? I walked my fat butt into Santiago in the best shape I'd been in since... well, probably forever!
So yeah, I totally do not understand a thing about this pilgrimage. None of it made any sense! Guess that's why I have to go back and do it again. Maybe I'll figure it out this time.
Do you understand that he did “get it”?awesome. post!!!
Yeah.....Is this a serious question?Do you understand that he did “get it”?
OMG. This is me.I don’t think you understand the concept or definition of addiction! But my guess is that you will soon. Give it a couple of weeks of sitting at home... maybe a smell, maybe a sound, maybe a memory and it will all flash back and you’ll find yourself in Spain again but only in a daydream... then life will resume around you again but there will be a small smile at the corner of your lips and people around you will certainly be wondering what you’re thinking about... it won’t be long after that before you’re pouring over every new forum post, reviewing new guidebooks and actively searching out new, entirely unnecessary (but lighter, quicker drying, higher tech version) pieces of kit for your inevitable next Camino...! Buen next Camino!
Me too... but then I wonder why there are cows in downtown Manhattan.... and then I wonder why I’m in downtown Manhattan... I really need to focus on what I’m doing...When I hear cow bells my mind wanders off to open fields of grazing cows adjacent to a country Camino road...
Me too... but then I wonder why there are cows in downtown Manhattan.... and then I wonder why I’m in downtown Manhattan... I really need to focus on what I’m doing...
Too much virus isolationA sure sign we both need to quit our jobs......
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