Inspiration

[KiwiNomad06]

Before I left home I collected up a small plastic bag of songs and quotes to inspire me along the way. I would choose a couple of bits of this paper to go in the pocket of my shorts each day for moments that came along to use them. (Crossing the Aubrac Plateau in drenching rain though, I forgot about these, and 'lost' some into the land of Wet Slop.)

One of the most helpful quotes I carried when I started walking was from Lynne from this Forum- basically about taking each step as it came. Today I came upon a quote on a blog that carried a very similar sentiment. I thought that others might find it helpful so am sharing it here.

"Watch your way then, as a cautious traveler
and don't be gazing at that mountain
or river in the distance
and saying, "How shall I ever get over them?"
but keep to the present little inch that is before you
and accomplish that
in the little moment that belongs to it.
The mountain and the river can only be passed
in the same way
and when you come to them
you will come to the light and strength
that belong to them."

~Kelty

Found on the sidebar of Mary Pott's blog 'Landing on my Feet' http://inspiredbyerin.blogspot.com/2011/05/quote-of-week.html
in honour of her daughter who died of cancer aged 18

I have also used this quote on my Camino-spirations blog today, thinking of two people I know are starting to walk from Le Puy in the coming week. http://kiwinomadsphotos.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-kay-and-craig.html
Margaret

 

[annakappa]

This is incredibly moving Margaret. I have just checked out her Blog too. Beautiful poems and thoughts. Thank you for sharing them with us. Anne

 

[Deleted member 3000]

One ship sails east and another sails west
With the self-same winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sail and not the gale
Which determines the way they go.

As the winds of the sea are the ways of fate
As we voyage along through life,
Tis the act of the soul that determines the goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

Of course, on the Camino, it is mostly west!

 

[Noel & Annie J]

The hand of Providence often reveals itself retrospectively rather than prospectively to pilgrims. As Kierkegaard observed, life must be understood backwards but lived forward. As pilgrims, we journey into the future, hopeful that in the fullness of time we shall understand how it was that “from the beginning, the fight we were winning.” ~ John S. Tanner