Camino joke - or not?

[Turga]

I know there is a thread about Camino jokes, but I’m not sure that this one qualifies as a joke. I don’t know what it is, but I like this little story, it has put some thoughts into my mind and I just wanted to share. I read it in a pilgrim’s diary from 2009 (as I remember). Maybe you already know it, but anyway, here it is:

A pilgrim dies and goes straight to Heaven. God is there to bid welcome but also notices, that the pilgrim does not look all happy, so He asks: “What is troubling you, pilgrim?” The pilgrim says: “I have this feeling that You were not always by my side, while I was wandering my life’s Camino on the earth”. God says: “Oh no! Well then, come here with me and look down; there you see the footprints of your life’s trail across the earth and you will notice, that there is another set of footprints right next to yours - I was with you!” The grumpy pilgrim replies: “But look there!.... And there!... And there! On many stretches, there is only one set of footprints! Where were You then?” And God says: “Those are the stretches where I had to carry you”.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I know there is a thread about Camino jokes, but I’m not sure that this one qualifies as a joke. I don’t know what it is, but I like this little story, it has put some thoughts into my mind and I just wanted to share. I read it in a pilgrim’s diary from 2009 (as I remember). Maybe you already know it, but anyway, here it is:

A pilgrim dies and goes straight to Heaven. God is there to bid welcome but also notices, that the pilgrim does not look all happy, so He asks: “What is troubling you, pilgrim?” The pilgrim says: “I have this feeling that You were not always by my side, while I was wandering my life’s Camino on the earth”. God says: “Oh no! Well then, come here with me and look down; there you see the footprints of your life’s trail across the earth and you will notice, that there is another set of footprints right next to yours - I was with you!” The grumpy pilgrim replies: “But look there!.... And there!... And there! On many stretches, there is only one set of footprints! Where were You then?” And God says: “Those are the stretches where I had to carry you”.

I like that story. I first read it in "Footprints in the Sand", but I love the Camino version, cause I sure do think that happened a couple of times to me on Camino.

Footprints In The Sand
circa 1978

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

 

[Turga]

Thank you, davebugg! That "filled out the holes". Beautiful!

 

[Turga]

And do you know who wrote it?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I think I recall this in the Codex Calixtinus:

Centuries ago the snails had their own Camino. They only traveled to Santiago from about 1 km out, but it still took them several months. A group of snails was set upon by a group of turtle bandits. The turtles beat the snails and stole their equipment.

The snails moved as quickly as they could to report the assault to the Guardia Civil. When the policemen asked the snails for a description of the bandits, they replied, "We really cannot say. It all happened so fast."

 

[Turga]

 

[Deleted member 67185]

And do you know who wrote it?

The author, and the original inspiration for the writing of the poem, seems to be disputed, with many people claiming authorship.

 

[Turga]

Oh, one of those. Like House of Rising sun and Suzanne... (I am that generation )

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Oh, one of those. Like House of Rising sun and Suzanne... (I am that generation )

Me, too

 

[Stivandrer]

I am still waiting for a good one on the opening of:

The Pope, a Rabbi and a Protestant priest went into a bar on the Camino .....

 

[hel&scott]

I am still waiting for a good one on the opening of: The Pope, a Rabbi and a Protestant priest went into a bar on the Camino .....

Actually this reminds me of most days on the Camino: A Brit, German, two Kiwis and a Spaniard arrived at an Alburge.... Fill in your own version of the rest...

 

[nycwalking]

A pilgrim was in a bar making too much noise. Waiter, says: " Sir can you please be quiet." Pilgrim proceeds to make more noise. Waiter asks for quiet yet again. Pilgrim gets upset and hollers out to all: "This guy is like a gynecologist he has to work where others have fun". A priest told that joke in Rabanal del camino.

 

[David Tallan]

Oh, one of those. Like House of Rising sun and Suzanne... (I am that generation )

House of the Rising Sun is an old folk song with many variants and no one knows the original author. Suzanne, on the other hand, is pretty clearly a Leonard Cohen song.

 

[Icacos]

I am allowed to tell this one, but the mods may still object.

A pilgrim died and went to heaven. He was met at the pearly gates by St. Peter and was shown around the garden. The pilgrim noticed that on one side of the garden was a very high wall. He asked St. Peter what was on the other side of the wall. St. Peter replied in conspirational tones, "The Catholics......they think they are the only ones here."