Don't miss the point of pilgrimage! I have yet to have the blessing of making my Camino; with that said, it is a Christian pilgrimage and the journey is not about arriving in Santiago but our finding our way to our true home. I don't know if you are familiar with the Stations of the Cross but as a Catholic convert, I was really entranced by them during my conversion.
The fifth station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross. If it weren't for Simon, Jesus probably would have died before making it to Golgotha. Then none of us would have hope and none of us would have a Camino to walk because there would have been no St. James and no relics to place in Santiago.
So you bore the burdens of another, without regards to their worthiness or with regard to your own welfare and you have suffered in the flesh. You have suffered in the spirit by giving up your rightful place to witness the glory of the pilgrims' mass for the glory of being a living gospel.
In my opinion, you are not punished but blessed and highly favored. You found the real Way.[/
Lizlane,what a nice way you express this very Christian point of view! Anne