Alan Pearce
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Invierno October 2022
I must admit that out of the sweet things that I have been told during my times on the camino that it is impossible to pick out a favourite. How about you?
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I must admit that out of the sweet things that I have been told during my times on the camino that it is impossible to pick out a favourite. How about you?
With an encouraging smile: "you are a tough woman"I must admit that out of the sweet things that I have been told during my times on the camino that it is impossible to pick out a favourite. How about you?
On Thanksgiving Day several years ago, I was fortunate enough to get a repairman to come fix my oven so I could roast the turkey. When I expressed my appreciation for his coming out to do the job on Thanksgiving Day, he gently replied, “EVERY day is Thanksgiving Day.”In response to me saying what a beautiful day it was to a local I met on the Camino Sanabres a few years ago -
"Senor, EVERY day is a beautiful day...."
He was so right!There should be more Lees in the world
Ha ha! That is one thing Padre Blas never said to me, though he did invite me to be his hospitalera. Perhaps he was scared I'd take him at his word and stay there forever, I certainly wanted to."This is your home now," - Words from Father Blas to each pilgrim as they set off from the albergue in Fuenterroble de la Salvatierra.
I all but cried when he said that to me. I don’t know why though. Perhaps the right words at the right time ?"This is your home now," - Words from Father Blas to each pilgrim as they set off from the albergue in Fuenterroble de la Salvatierra.
I find it very touching when someone says "pray for me in Santiago". Especially if it is a religious.
Love this, VN. But I really want to know if that guy quit his job!Alan, I'm with you...how to choose?
This is a little different than the most kind or generous act.
Actually, the nicest thing people have said is to honestly open up and share deeply. That trust is so precious. "Thank you for listening" is a gift.
I remember a long talk with a fellow pilgrim who was going home the next day, and who had been wrestling with a decision about whether to quit his job or not - this was no light matter, as his work was deeply respected and potentially powerful, and his career was really beginning to 'take off.' He'd spoken to no-one about his struggle, either on the camino or at home. So I just listened. We didn't keep in touch, so I don't know what happened to him, but hope that sharing lightened his load.
And like @Kanga, I'm deeply touched by the prayer requests and do my best to follow through. (Is it just me or do other people write these down? I am so afraid of leaving someone out.)
And kind words for me?
"Tranquillo, tranquillo..." from a señora in the tiny village of Contreras (near Santo Domingo de Silos on the Lana) who was arranging for some loggers to come and help me find my way back to the camino when I was well off piste and without a map after my phone went down.
Any anxiety I was feeling just dissolved. And sure enough, they drew a perfect map and soon I was on my way. Don't worry, indeed - though of course I had been!
Where was that you were walking, with Soviet memorials and mass murder sites?Somewhere in the East …
I had been feeling unnerved and fragile after one or two unpleasant encounters and a little unhinged by weeks of passing by mass murder sites, derelict buildings and Soviet memorials. I had followed a trail through the woods only to arrive at an unexpected road and a collection of old wooden houses. The front door of one was wide open. I could see that a woman was at home so hollered from the gate, asking for directions. She said, "No, you are not lost. This hamlet has been here for nearly 500 years. It has never been noted by a cartographer nor will you find it on a satelite map". Then she said, incredulous, "Yesterday for the very first time I heard about people who walk long distances from every part of Europe, even from here, to a place named Santiago de Compostella. They call themselves pilgrims. Now here you are, one of them on my doorstep. How amazing is that !" We both laughed and said, "Our meeting must be meant! "I was welcomed into her home and invited to stay over night. She prepared a feast and introduced me to her family.
I had been feeling a little shattered by the relentless search for shelter, day after day, and by the evidence of other people’s suffering -artifacts in the forests and towns, the brutality of it all when, suddenly, there it was, Love manifest : open-hearted friendliness and a warm welcome. The next day arrived shining and gay. I awoke feeling exhilarated and strong, as light as a floating thistle...
(Summer, 2017)
Me too, to be honest. I think of him from time to time, wondering how he is. And I'll never know.But I really want to know if that guy quit his job!
Where was that you were walking, with Soviet memorials and mass murder sites?
Awesomely awesome!Alan, I'm with you...how to choose?
This is a little different than the most kind or generous act.
Actually, the nicest thing people have said is to honestly open up and share deeply. That trust is so precious. "Thank you for listening" is a gift.
I remember a long talk with a fellow pilgrim who was going home the next day, and who had been wrestling with a decision about whether to quit his job or not - this was no light matter, as his work was deeply respected and potentially powerful, and his career was really beginning to 'take off.' He'd spoken to no-one about his struggle, either on the camino or at home. So I just listened. We didn't keep in touch, so I don't know what happened to him, but hope that sharing lightened his load.
And like @Kanga, I'm deeply touched by the prayer requests and do my best to follow through. (Is it just me or do other people write these down? I am so afraid of leaving someone out.)
And kind words for me?
"Tranquillo, tranquillo..." from a señora in the tiny village of Contreras (near Santo Domingo de Silos on the Lana) who was arranging for some loggers to come and help me find my way back to the camino when I was well off piste and without a map after my phone went down.
Any anxiety I was feeling just dissolved. And sure enough, they drew a perfect map and soon I was on my way. Don't worry, indeed - though of course I had been!
Thank you for this uplifting thread that not only focuses on the positive, but brings smiles to faces as they remember these moments. Buenos dias, mi amigo!I must admit that out of the sweet things that I have been told during my times on the camino that it is impossible to pick out a favourite. How about you?
For me, it would be kind actions on the various Caminos, of which there have been many.I must admit that out of the sweet things that I have been told during my times on the camino that it is impossible to pick out a favourite. How about you?
¡Gracias Mil Amigo Alan!I must admit that out of the sweet things that I have been told during my times on the camino that it is impossible to pick out a favourite. How about you?
Brings tears to my eyes...our VDLP walk fell twice because of the Rona. And I did donate a few pennies to their...was it water heater?...now wiping eyes. God willing, we will walk the Plata someday."This is your home now," - Words from Father Blas to each pilgrim as they set off from the albergue in Fuenterroble de la Salvatierra.