Am now in Paleis del Rei within two days of the prize. It is cold, damp and raining here in Galicia and my mood is dark. So take what I post as possibly a reflection of my mood than actuality.
Come cry with me for the demise of the solitary, spiritually oriented pilgrim who eschews electronic devices, trusts to the fates rather than his cell phone for his humble night´s lodging, carries his own backpack and walks every step of the Way (in the absence of injury or time contraints).
Join me in welcoming the new pilgrim who buries his head in his cellphone ( sand) while walking through the spectacular landscape; does not even make a pretence of spirituality, but openly admits
no, even boasts of having discovered this cheap holiday; gossips endlessly about fellow pilgrims on the so called camino radio (cellphones); taxis and buses up and down the Way in search of his friends, cheap thrills and the next party; makes multiple reservations stealing cuckoo like the bed from the few remaining hard walking pilgrims. Let us welcome the new pilgrim in his restless, frantic pursuit of pleasure.
The herd is cruel in its mindless pursuit of pleasure callously discarding those of its number who through injury or dissent are abandoned or expelled while those who condemn the loudest are in turn discarded.
There is no more pitiable sight on the Camino than these poor broken creatures. It is my hope that at least a few of them would not return home to lick their wounds, but would find the the strength in the dust of the departing herd and declare to the blue heavens:
¨ I am strong. I can be alone. I can carry my own backpack. I can climb that mountain. I can walk to Santiago!¨
I see him taking up his staff and own backpack and walking into the breaking dawn where the keen biting wind of the coming day and the scorching heat of the midday sun will sear his soul shedding the the dross to reveal the real self in all its purity and austere beauty. And he will then know a joy and ecstasy that no amount of casual pleasure can bestow.
Come cry with me for the demise of the solitary, spiritually oriented pilgrim who eschews electronic devices, trusts to the fates rather than his cell phone for his humble night´s lodging, carries his own backpack and walks every step of the Way (in the absence of injury or time contraints).
Join me in welcoming the new pilgrim who buries his head in his cellphone ( sand) while walking through the spectacular landscape; does not even make a pretence of spirituality, but openly admits
no, even boasts of having discovered this cheap holiday; gossips endlessly about fellow pilgrims on the so called camino radio (cellphones); taxis and buses up and down the Way in search of his friends, cheap thrills and the next party; makes multiple reservations stealing cuckoo like the bed from the few remaining hard walking pilgrims. Let us welcome the new pilgrim in his restless, frantic pursuit of pleasure.
The herd is cruel in its mindless pursuit of pleasure callously discarding those of its number who through injury or dissent are abandoned or expelled while those who condemn the loudest are in turn discarded.
There is no more pitiable sight on the Camino than these poor broken creatures. It is my hope that at least a few of them would not return home to lick their wounds, but would find the the strength in the dust of the departing herd and declare to the blue heavens:
¨ I am strong. I can be alone. I can carry my own backpack. I can climb that mountain. I can walk to Santiago!¨
I see him taking up his staff and own backpack and walking into the breaking dawn where the keen biting wind of the coming day and the scorching heat of the midday sun will sear his soul shedding the the dross to reveal the real self in all its purity and austere beauty. And he will then know a joy and ecstasy that no amount of casual pleasure can bestow.