Day 10 on the Camino Way

An Encouraging Kite

As we finished today’s hike one of the pilgrims on the journey with us stood near the trail and flew a kite. As silly as this might sound, it was the kind of distraction that made the last mile or so easier. Funny what a little gesture can do. The kite flyer told us he does this to encourage the walkers during the most difficult time in the day.

And here we are with our good humored friend. He’s from California and his daughter works in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We’ve seen him all along the route. At first I honestly thought he was a bit intrusive, but as we became familiar with him we realized that he’s just a nice guy—and a character. He started his journey in France where he said he walked for days without seeing anyone else on the road. In the hostels along the way, he was the only one staying. ”I’d sleep in one bed for a few hours, then move to another and another and another.” I think he was kidding.

Bonnie

We met Bonnie at breakfast this morning. She was wearing a ring on a chain around her neck. It’s her husband Larry’s wedding ring. He died eleven months ago. ”This is my grief journey,” she told us. She is little, but she is strong. She finished well ahead of the rest of us. However, she also kept an eye on us along the way, waving us over to water fountains, saving us seats at a coffee bar.

Somewhere along the way she connected with Bob and Peter, from Australia—two really great guys. It’s the way things are on this trail. People take others in. In the photo below that’s our Bob (in the blue jacket) talking to Bob- “that’s Bob, B at the beginning and b at the end with nothing in between.” (It’s funnier with a down-under accent.) Bonnie is behind the Bobs with a big grin on her face. Bob makes her laugh. She needs to laugh.

Lost Poles

Today in a church someone took Sally’s walking poles. Whether by mistake or not we cannot say. Whoever it was left behind a set of poles of considerable less value then Sally’s. It was unsetting to all of us, but of course, especially Sally. For several miles she walked in silence, beating herself up for not being more vigilant. You know exactly how she felt. You’ve been there. We all have. At the moment, it doesn’t matter that it’s not your fault. You go to the place of shame. ”How stupid of me. What was I thinking?” You know.

Lewis Smedes wrote a good little book entitled, ”Shame and Grace.” In it he talks about his own struggles with shame. He uses a beautiful metaphor—at least I think it’s a metaphor— of a reservoir of shame that we all have deep inside us. When something happens like happened to Sally, we drink out of those deep dark waters.

Finding Grace

Then the kite guy shows up. And then there’s Bob—B and b with nothing in between. And Bonnie, of course enters the mix. Our friends on the journey kept their counsel until later, and then we all processed together. We broke bread and we gave grace, not that Sally needed much at that point. Except she did, didn’t she? We all need grace when ”shit happens.” And shit happens to all of us. And it stinks!

But we are not walking through life alone. We are journeying with others who are as human as we are and when we finally stop choking down the shame cocktail, we get perspective. Sally lost something that is easily replaceable. Bonnie lost her husband. Of course, it’s apples and oranges and Sally is still bothered by losing those poles. You might have trouble grasping this, but for 10 days now and many others in training those poles were a part of her. Plus, it’s disappointing thinking someone on this journey would make that trade. And the shame cocktail we drink when stuff like this happens is a bitter mix of insecurity and doubt.

But grace is powerful too.

A friend gave Sally a gift to open on every day of this walk. This was today’s. This is grace.

Buen Camino!