Camino Angels DO exist!

[LizC-S]

Today was a very special day -- I randomly bumped into 3 people who have been Angels to me so far. For anyone having reservations or worries, the Camino will provide be it apparent at the time or not.

 

[mralisn]

Hi LizC-S,

In over 120 nights on the Caminos, there have been many first hand accounts of what you describe, Camino Angels.

Luckily for me, there was only once when I might not have had a bed. This happened someplace on the Camino Norte in 2010. A very small refugio with 8 beds (4 bunks) and 6 mats on the kitchen floor. I was the 15th person to arrive after an extra long day of walking, maybe around 16:00 arrival. I was hot, tired, and wanted to watch the match between Germany and Spain in the World Cup 2010 and didn't want to walk further. I decided to hose myself off in the back grass area and sleep in the paddock for the night. I was perfectly fine with that. I got to talking to two girls from Germany who eventually took pity on me. These became my Camino Angels as they decided to give up one of their beds and share one so I could have a place to sleep inside. A simple gesture. The kindness of strangers.

I am happy to say that we got to meet up in Santiago and still remain in contact frequently.

The Camino provides what I might need and takes what I might want. I like that.

Trust in the arrows,
Simeon

 

[Waka]

You are both so right.

 

[Albertagirl]

Hi LizC-S,

In over 120 nights on the Caminos, there have been many first hand accounts of what you describe, Camino Angels.

Luckily for me, there was only once when I might not have had a bed. This happened someplace on the Camino Norte in 2010. A very small refugio with 8 beds (4 bunks) and 6 mats on the kitchen floor. I was the 15th person to arrive after an extra long day of walking, maybe around 16:00 arrival. I was hot, tired, and wanted to watch the match between Germany and Spain in the World Cup 2010 and didn't want to walk further. I decided to hose myself off in the back grass area and sleep in the paddock for the night. I was perfectly fine with that. I got to talking to two girls from Germany who eventually took pity on me. These became my Camino Angels as they decided to give up one of their beds and share one so I could have a place to sleep inside. A simple gesture. The kindness of strangers.

I am happy to say that we got to meet up in Santiago and still remain in contact frequently.

The Camino provides what I might need and takes what I might want. I like that.

Trust in the arrows,
Simeon

@mralisn:
Like you, I experienced the assistance of many camino angels while walking the camino in the fall. Wonderful people of all ages and abilities to function assisted me, including a young boy who was apparently severely autistic, who rescued my Tilley hat from loss. In addition, I was able on occasion to be a camino angel to others. The needs of other pilgrims can be visible to us as we share the camino walk with them, even as your needs were to the two women who offered one of their beds to you. So it is for us pilgrims to be angels to one another as best we can, so that all of us may complete our caminos with our needs fulfilled, and that sense of blessing and satisfaction that comes from accepting and offering help when needed.