Pass it forward

[BonitaHolland]

Whilst I was walking the Camino Frances I noticed how frequently items that were wanted/needed were found or lost or passed on or shared or left behind but then gained by another....for example Betty left her rain jacket behind but was later given a cape then I met her and mentioned I needed a plug as mine was bust she had two and gave me one, in this way she was passing forward a gift she'd received in the cape but via the plug to me.... later on the day I left the Camino in Leon I passed two pairs of socks and some fleece gloves to Amanda who needed them as she was continuing and had holes in her socks and was concerned about cold hands in the mountains to come. What have you passed forward?

 

[Waka]

I kept meeting a women called Teresa from the USA, on one of our meetings for breakfast 1 she mentioned to my wife and I that both pairs of socks she was carrying weren't dry. She went on to tell us that she was going to walk without any socks on, having explained that this would be blister heaven I dug out a pair of new socks and gave them to her. To my surprise we met again just outside SDC and she returned the socks all nice and clean. I did explain that she could keep them.

 

[Felipe]

Some years ago, I managed to lost my cap between Ibañeta and Roncesalles. I always use one (I am quite bald, so I don't particularly like the sun on my head...) I walked back to look for it, to no avail. A fellow pilgrim with whom I were walking, seeing how unhappy I was, told me "don't worry, I have an explorer hat that I am not using, please take it".
In Pamplona he wanted to stay an extra day, so I tried to give it back to him, but he told me "No, Felipe, keep it, as a memory of a good walk together".
So, I still have it; it is my favorite for my Sunday walks. It is currently quite worn out and shapeless. I have added some pins that I brought from my travels, so it looks quite funny. It is always a good excuse for breaking the ice with other fellow walkers.

 

[HeidiL]

I found that my new pack had an integral rain cover - while we were walking. We gave the rain cover I'd bought before starting to an Italian woman a rainy day on the CF.

The best gift I got was in the Corte Inglés shop in Madrid last year. They were sold out on rubber tips for my walking poles, but when I asked the nice lady behind the counter, she found some loose in a drawer - and refused to accept payment for them, claiming they were unsellable because they weren't in a package. And then she wished me bon camino...

 

[Penny Kingma]

It's a great feeling sharing along the Camino...lightening your pack goes on to lighten the burden of others.

 

[Icacos]

A wonderful couple from Alberta passed on to me some Voltaren ointment when I was hobbled by tendinitis. It made it possible for me to continue, and finish, my camino at a time when calling it quits was something I simply could not contemplate.

 

[Penny Kingma]

A young girl from Texas was cold so I traded her sleep sack for my down sleeping bag
A women from Sweden was limping from her hiking boots...continued on with my spare Keen sandles and diabetic socks....actually 4 pair of those socks travelled along ahead. Another pair of rest sandles went in another direction. My big Canadian flag beach towel went to cradle a injured bicycle riders arm as he went off in an ambulance. My heavy pack was such a burden ... but obviously carried exactly what was needed. So very happy to spread the .

 

[t2andreo]

Whenever I help someone and they insist on repaying me, I tell them to "pay it forward." Do something nice for another pilgrim in need. It ALWAYS comes back to you.

 

[KinkyOne]

Whenever I help someone and they insist on repaying me, I tell them to "pay it forward." Do something nice for another pilgrim in need. It ALWAYS comes back to you.

Agree. Very much the same in "real" life

 

[Annette london]

Whilst I was walking the Camino Frances I noticed how frequently items that were wanted/needed were found or lost or passed on or shared or left behind but then gained by another....for example Betty left her rain jacket behind but was later given a cape then I met her and mentioned I needed a plug as mine was bust she had two and gave me one, in this way she was passing forward a gift she'd received in the cape but via the plug to me.... later on the day I left the Camino in Leon I passed two pairs of socks and some fleece gloves to Amanda who needed them as she was continuing and had holes in her socks and was concerned about cold hands in the mountains to come. What have you passed forward?

In 2009,whilst walking the Camino Norte we passed and repassed a couple from Bilbao.......not many were walking this Camino back then!
On one of our wet days we saw them wearing lovely blue ponchos.
A few days later following a morning shower,the sun came out just as we hit a narrow steep path up from the beach. There sitting on the path was a blue poncho!! Could not have belonged to anyone else but one of these pilgrims. Now sure that we would catch up with them....I put it in my rucksack. For 3 days no sign of them which was a bit surprising considering we'd been neck and neck for so long!!
One dreadful wet day we took refuge outside a cafe for lunch.
What did I spot but one blue "poncho" tearing along the road. Behind her,a not so happy looking guy....drenched through and through!!
A loud "hola,hola" got their attention and said poncho was received with delight. And a well deserved cafe.
2 days later, and within less than half an hour, I noticed that our little booklet(not much info then re the Norte!!) was missing from my side pocket......had to go back for it as it contained all and only info we had.

Within about 20 minutes...here was a local man haring along the road......booklet in hand!! Could have kissed him!!

So, as they say say "what goes around, comes around"
Sometimes!!
Best wishes ...Annette

 

[t2andreo]

Annette, the standard reparté for your scenario is to remind you that Saint James works in strange ways all along, and away from the Camino. To some of us, sometimes, his methods are downright strange.

But the key it seems, is to have faith that everything will turn out well. Whatever your distress or loss, just "offer it up" as a sacrifice.

In four years walking and working as a voluntario at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago, I have seen far too many serendipitous moments and outcomes to support a mere rationale of "chaos theory." Clearly, there is something more at work here.

I do not profess to have the ultimate explanation. What I can assure you is that you always get more out of giving than the immediate satisfaction of helping another pilgrim in need. I have seen this result time and time again.

In fact, it is what keeps me coming back for a month every year as a voluntario. It is also why, when I walk a Camino, I always tote extra stuff, supplies, etc. to provide assistance whenever indicated.

It has become what I do, and in part, who I have become. My association with the Camino de Santiago, and with the members of this Forum, have made be a better person (IMHO) than I was five years ago, before my Camino era.

I hope this helps.