JerryTexas52
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances
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The Camino called me.Has any one had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it?
when Camino calls, you reply by doing.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
It sounds based in this comment that all you need to do now is put your “calling” into an action plan and get to Spain. Regardless of age, being healthy and exercising regularly are the key ingredients for you to successfully travel The Way. I was in a similar situation at the age of 65. Making the decision to head to SJPP to start my Camino was one of my “best” life decisions. I now experience the “call” to return. This coming spring will by my sixth trek to SdC. Buen Camino!I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy.
I did not have a religious calling; however, every fiber in my being was telling me to walk this path. My first one was in 2012 when I was 65 years old and did it solo. I've done 2 more enjoying time with friends and meeting others. I have the same pull now to walk next year. Step into it. You will never regret it no matter what your intention.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
I know how you feel. I went for a sense of adventure and spirituality, but not as a religious pilgrimage. As my departure date came closer, in the back of my mind, I was nervous and anxious. However I had a stronger desire that I had to do this. Having completed the Camino, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have a strong desire to go back. I hope your Camino is everything you desire. Buen Camino.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
Hi Jerry. Walking the Camino was a lurking desire since I met someone from Australia going to SJPP while on holiday in France. It took nearly 30 years but the calling always stayed with me. On my 65th I walked the Frances. I walked it alone. At times it was grueling. At times incredibly joyous. Walking in silence I talked with Him often. I'm feeling the desire to go again so I am doing it next year for my 70th. Buen Camino.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
Thanks to you and all the others who have shared their comments regarding this idea of calling. I experienced the call to ministry at the age of 37 having been an educator for 16 years. I yielded to that call by giving up my job and going to seminary and then served as a pastor for the next 30 years before retiring. I have been having feelings similar to what I experienced as I gave up my job and prepared for ministry, something I could not put aside. I have been experimenting with the idea of walking the camino but have been wanting to explore the topic thoroughly before committing myself to a date. I appreciate you all. I sense community as well as motivation to be devoted to a pilgrimage.Hi, and welcome to the forum! I am not sure that I am "called" to the Camino. It is not a word that I use in relation to myself, but I realize that there are many different ways that we can describe our urges! I suppose that we could get into a discussion of what that word means, but we need to be careful there!
The Camino is attractive to me, and I believe that I gain much from it. That is reason enough, given that I am in the fortunate position of being able to do it.
You might find some interesting discussions on the threads that are tagged "why the camino" and "pilgrims & pilgrimage". Just click on those tags that have been added to this thread at the top under the thread title.
The Camino is not always a transformative experience. It wasn't/isn't for me. I suggest that too much exploration and analysis may lead to expectations that could be problematic. If it appeals to you, just go for that long walk.have been wanting to explore the topic thoroughly before committing myself to a date.
Yes, I can absolutely say I was “called” to do this. I found out about the Camino for the first time in June and realized that I had had signs before that which I didn’t notice. After finding out about it, I became obsessed with it and started reading everything I could, book after book about others experience on the trail. And I searched documentaries, movies, you tube, blogs…everything. I felt like I couldn’t even do anything else in my life until I walked the Camino first. By July I had my plane reservation and I started walking 9/15 from St. Jean Pied de Port and I am 15 km away from Santiago as I type and will be there tomorrow. I’m doing it for spiritual reasons solely and was determined to complete it no matter how long it took me. I’m 58 years old and at a crossroads in my life. I’m certainly not the only one I know who has had this “calling”. I truly believe it does mean something important when you get it.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
Thank you Bob. I appreciate your words. I continue to reflect upon the call as I perceive it and what walking the Camino may mean to my life. Buen Camino. JerryHey Jerry, I think the desire to go on a Camino can become captivating, haunting (even obsessive), regardless of what your reasons or motives for going might be. It also has a bit of an additive quality, where we try to capture some of the "magic" of it over and over. As other forum members have already, I would caution you not to put "too much weight on it", let it be whatever it's supposed to be, for you.
For what it's worth, I have been in Ministry of some form or another for over 40 years, being Ordained in 1989 (and us Catholics always talk about vocations and being called), my experience of being drawn to Spain was as much as a "call" as any other endeavor in my life.
I know for many Pilgrims, the experience may not be revelatory or transformative, but it was for me. I always feel like I'm drifting into sounding like "Yoda" when I say this, but; the Camino has it's own movement and Spirit, and if it's meant to happen, it will... how and when it's supposed to. Hope you make it over there and enjoy it. Peace, Bob
Hello JerryTexas52,I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
Hello Jerry, I felt called to walk the Camino back in 2012. I was watching the the film "The Way" at a film group in a Carmelite priory. I am not a Catholic but was inspired by much that their saints have brought us. I enjoyed the film and as the credits were scrolling at the end I was weeping silently and my "heart" was deeply stirred. I knew that I had to walk this Camino. It took 2 years to find a six week slot in my working life then. I was greatly blessed by my experience and have done two other Camino since. Go for it.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
For me, I had a calling, but once you have walked the Camino pilgrims also start experiencing what I call the "Camino Curse". You will start planning your next Camino in Spain. Those who have not experienced the Camino do not understand it, but those who have know what I am talking about. By the way, I am retired clergy as well.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
Hi Robert. Thanks for sharing your experience. I was moved by different parts of the film also. I felt a calling before watching it but this also spoke to me. I am planning to walk it soon. Buen Camino.Hello Jerry, I felt called to walk the Camino back in 2012. I was watching the the film "The Way" at a film group in a Carmelite priory. I am not a Catholic but was inspired by much that their saints have brought us. I enjoyed the film and as the credits were scrolling at the end I was weeping silently and my "heart" was deeply stirred. I knew that I had to walk this Camino. It took 2 years to find a six week slot in my working life then. I was greatly blessed by my experience and have done two other Camino since. Go for it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think that when one has received a call to ministry earlier in life, then one can recognize that same call in one's life in regard to other areas of life. We may be retired from active ministry but we are still in ministry daily in our world. Blessings.For me, I had a calling, but once you have walked the Camino pilgrims also start experiencing what I call the "Camino Curse". You will start planning your next Camino in Spain. Those who have not experienced the Camino do not understand it, but those who have know what I am talking about. By the way, I am retired clergy as well.
Hi Jeff. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Witness happens in many ways. I chose to live my life among others and let them know of my care and concern. I am glad that you received a call to be actively speaking to others about God. I send you blessings. JerryHello JerryTexas52,
I live in Minnesota and I’m currently 67. I was compelled to go in 2014, called by God to return in 2015, and God confirmed his calling in 2015 and 2016. The Camino has become my personal ministry. I have returned to Europe 1 to 3 times every year since 2014. I have traversed by foot or bike a total of or 3400 miles. I don’t tell you this to brag but I want you to know how excited I am to have this new purpose in my life. God has used the Camino as a conduit to change my life. Now he is using me as a conduit to speak the truth into the lives of others. I consider myself only as a planter of seeds.
I now walk the Camino with the sole purpose of making myself available to witness to whoever God places in my path and makes them available to hear my testimony. Like you, I’m a protestant but unlike you, I am a lay person and have never been interested in missions or street witnessing at all prior to the Camino.
Now I have a passion for the youth and revival of western Europe. The people I get to share with from eastern Europe and the Far East are like icing on the cake of joy.
If you’re interested, I would love to share the details of some of my experiences and lessons learned from them. Make a reply to this post and I will gladly send a private message with my contact info.
Jeff
I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
Thanks for your good words, Aidan. I appreciate hearing part of your story. I do feel called to walk it and I want to try to go in 2022. Thanks for sharing with me. JerryHi Jerry T,
I first heard about the Camino in a friend's house and within 1 minute of hearing about it I simply knew I was going. No ifs or buts it was simply a matter of time. So 2 years later I went. I have since been to the Camino on 7 different occasions. So was I called? I think I was propelled!! And when I got there it felt like this is where I am supposed to be and this is what I am supposed to do. I have loved every step.
As for being a Protestant, no one minds, no one cares. You are just another Peregrino on your life's journey, a journey that is deeply personal and can only be travelled by you. And wow, such a treasure to walk across Spain on that journey. Go for it Jerry. Do not live with the regret of not doing that which is calling to you.
Aidan
I don't know. I certainly wasn't called to my first Camino - I think. I read that it existed. I was living in Spain at the time. It pushed all of the buttons of my interests. I had a bit of vacation. Was that a calling? It just seemed the obvious use of my time. I always meant to go back and do it "properly" but, to be frank, I didn't think about it much at all for a couple of decades while I was going about my life, building a family and a career.I know there are many reasons for persons to walk the Camino. Some have religious reasons and consider themselves pilgrims in the way that ancients who walked it must have. Has any had or have know someone who has had a "calling" to walk it? I am a retired pastor and have considered walking it for years but lately I have been experiencing feelings that I would think of as a "calling" to walk the Camino as a pilgrimage. I am not a Roman Catholic. I am a Protestant but that does not matter. Feeling a calling to religious purpose transcends human designation. It provides a purpose that one may need in order to be prepared for what may come later in life. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have felt some form of a call to walk the Camino. I am 68 and still in great physical condition, walk miles daily for exercise and eat healthy. I want to consider walking the Camino by the time I turn 70.
I believe so, yes. And now you're here...I don't know. I certainly wasn't called to my first Camino - I think. I read that it existed. I was living in Spain at the time. It pushed all of the buttons of my interests. I had a bit of vacation. Was that a calling? It just seemed the obvious use of my time. I always meant to go back and do it "properly" but, to be frank, I didn't think about it much at all for a couple of decades while I was going about my life, building a family and a career.
Then, all of a sudden, I couldn't get it out of my mind. Was that a calling?
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