Many people have asked me to explain why and how this obsession began, and so I will write a post to try to answer the question.
I was on a treadmill heading nowhere.
Yes, some of you might take this as a metaphor and apply it to your own life and your own life's road. But I was actually on a treadmill, in a gym, and of course it was stationary, going nowhere.
The story begins much earlier. I have been peripherally aware for a few decades of a spiritual hike in Northern Spain, and I knew in my heart I wanted to walk that hike some day. I guess even then the camino was whispering to me, calling me. All the other details were jumbled or just plain false. I thought the hike was along a wooded lane over gently rolling hills, with a bed and breakfast at each stopping point, and a catered lunch along the way. Two or three days of hiking with a tour group through picturesque scenery, culminating in a little chapel of some significance to Catholics. When we booked our trip to Barcelona a few years ago, I even thought of seeing if we could take a day trip to see the chapel. (Too funny in retrospect.)
In May 2013, I was on a treadmill at the gym. A woman was about to step on the equipment next to me. I had never spoken with her, although I could tell from her conversation with other patrons that she had a friendly voice. So I said hello when she started walking. The conversation flowed free and natural as we spent that hour walking side-by-side. Her name was Maria, she was from South America, and she had traveled extensively around the world. She was a professor at Old Dominion University.
At some point I mentioned we were going to Italy for Leo's 50th birthday, and she expressed excitement because she had also been to the Cinque Terre. From there the conversation moved toward the decision of what to do for my 50th birthday, and I told her I wanted to do something more personal and spiritual to celebrate and give thanks for my wonderful life thus far. I said I was choosing between three things: going to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, going to Macchu Picchu, or taking this weird hike thing in Northern Spain.
Maria replied that she had been to all three! She said Jerusalem was interesting, but not spiritual. That Macchu Picchu was beautiful, but not really spiritual. But El Camino de Santiago de Campostella? Now THAT was a seriously spiritual experience. She had walked it many years ago and suggested I look into it. When I started asking about it, I realized quickly that I was full of misinformation. She stressed that I do some research, she was sure that I should walk the camino.
Pilgrims who have walked the camino before talk about other people...angels...who are deliberately sent to assist. Here is the rub. Maria had just finished the semester at ODU and was not returning. She lived in Newport News, and this was her last day coming to this gym. What an experience to have her tell me without a doubt the camino was waiting for me, before she disappeared forever.
Curious, I went home and began to do some research. Within a few days I had books ordered from the library and Amazon, and my heart and soul began pounding with excitement. If I had less wits and more money, I probably would have left for Spain within the week. It has been named a calling, a summoning, an obsession. Whatever the name, I had camino fever, and it continues to this day. I have been summoned!
At first I was determined to walk alone, as to have more of a communion with God. But when I finally saw the movie, The Way, I realized I wanted to walk with Leo. This is something we should share together, and I am sure we will still have plenty of quiet time for reflection and thought.
I was on a treadmill heading nowhere.
Yes, some of you might take this as a metaphor and apply it to your own life and your own life's road. But I was actually on a treadmill, in a gym, and of course it was stationary, going nowhere.
The story begins much earlier. I have been peripherally aware for a few decades of a spiritual hike in Northern Spain, and I knew in my heart I wanted to walk that hike some day. I guess even then the camino was whispering to me, calling me. All the other details were jumbled or just plain false. I thought the hike was along a wooded lane over gently rolling hills, with a bed and breakfast at each stopping point, and a catered lunch along the way. Two or three days of hiking with a tour group through picturesque scenery, culminating in a little chapel of some significance to Catholics. When we booked our trip to Barcelona a few years ago, I even thought of seeing if we could take a day trip to see the chapel. (Too funny in retrospect.)
In May 2013, I was on a treadmill at the gym. A woman was about to step on the equipment next to me. I had never spoken with her, although I could tell from her conversation with other patrons that she had a friendly voice. So I said hello when she started walking. The conversation flowed free and natural as we spent that hour walking side-by-side. Her name was Maria, she was from South America, and she had traveled extensively around the world. She was a professor at Old Dominion University.
At some point I mentioned we were going to Italy for Leo's 50th birthday, and she expressed excitement because she had also been to the Cinque Terre. From there the conversation moved toward the decision of what to do for my 50th birthday, and I told her I wanted to do something more personal and spiritual to celebrate and give thanks for my wonderful life thus far. I said I was choosing between three things: going to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, going to Macchu Picchu, or taking this weird hike thing in Northern Spain.
Maria replied that she had been to all three! She said Jerusalem was interesting, but not spiritual. That Macchu Picchu was beautiful, but not really spiritual. But El Camino de Santiago de Campostella? Now THAT was a seriously spiritual experience. She had walked it many years ago and suggested I look into it. When I started asking about it, I realized quickly that I was full of misinformation. She stressed that I do some research, she was sure that I should walk the camino.
Pilgrims who have walked the camino before talk about other people...angels...who are deliberately sent to assist. Here is the rub. Maria had just finished the semester at ODU and was not returning. She lived in Newport News, and this was her last day coming to this gym. What an experience to have her tell me without a doubt the camino was waiting for me, before she disappeared forever.
Curious, I went home and began to do some research. Within a few days I had books ordered from the library and Amazon, and my heart and soul began pounding with excitement. If I had less wits and more money, I probably would have left for Spain within the week. It has been named a calling, a summoning, an obsession. Whatever the name, I had camino fever, and it continues to this day. I have been summoned!
At first I was determined to walk alone, as to have more of a communion with God. But when I finally saw the movie, The Way, I realized I wanted to walk with Leo. This is something we should share together, and I am sure we will still have plenty of quiet time for reflection and thought.
