The author walked 500 miles (800 km) in a period of a month. Apparently this is a very popular pilgrimage which people from all over the world go on. Some are seeking a closer walk with God, others have more vague "spiritual goals", while others are not interested in any form of spiritual process, but just enjoy the travelling through a deeply historic path.
I did not miss the irony of the fact that I was reading a book about walking whilst travelling in the comfort of a vehicle, and that he meditates on the advantage of travelling at the speed of life (walking) as opposed to the speed of technology (say 110 km/hr). We could travel in one day what he took a month to cover, yet we would miss the importance of the journey.
I started thinking about how difficult it would be to carry out such a quest in Australia. Along the Campino they have regularly spaced hostels located in villages every few kilometres. If you walked flat out all day, you might get to Boggabri or Bellata (that's about 50 km) but that is a big day's walk. I guess you could break your journey at Baan Baa or Edgeroi- which is more achievable. You would really have to sleep out along the way and carry several days' food and water at a time.
That's before you even stop to consider that we don't have any sacred sites to pilgrim to!
An important feature of the pilgrimage is that the journey gives focus to a person's life. With all that time to think and reflect and pray, many people discover themselves making big changed to their lives. In our culture we don't take time out to "Be still and know that I am God" as the Scriptures say. We live lives that are very scattered- busy but unfocussed. We spend much of our time being bombarded by media, by activities, by stress, by sheer busyness.
Boers quotes four affirmations of the focussed life:
- There is no place I would rather be
- There is nothing I would rather do
- There is no one I would rather be with
- This I will remember well
I wonder how many people can agree to all four of the affirmations. Even when we are in the right place doing the right thing with the right people, we often get sucked into the pace of our own busymess and are unable to remember or celebrate the goodness of God in kacing us in the perfect place.
As I thought about this I was thankful that I can affirm all four of these.
How about you?
Do you need to spend time refocussing on what God is doing in your life. Maybe there are changes you need to make. Or perhaps you just need to remember and celebrate that you are wjhere God wants you to be.
For more infomration on the Campino de Santiago click here
Blessings
Keith
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