Religious/Spiritual Camino

The daily experience for a Christian is to develop a closer relationship with Him, and to strive to become like Him in the best way possible. The Camino was much the same as attending church --- it didn't make me any more or less a Christian, but it gave me a unique space in which to worship Him and to meditate on my relationship with Him, and with other pilgrims around me. I was cognizant of the Camino as a special time to do so, apart from the distractions of life and responsibilities at home. I also viewed this time as a way of developing more sensitivity towards the needs of others, even as strangers, and to offer whatever assistance and comfort that I could. Sometimes I miserably failed, but that is what being human is about even if one is a follower of Christ .

Even Jesus recognized the need to remove oneself from the normal routines; He spent time alone in the wilderness, and frequently removed Himself away from His Disciples and followers to be with the Father.

I look forward to this again when I return this late September and October.

@DowtyCamino -

1) I have seen miracles most days out. Think 'Loaves and Fishes', 'Miracle of Tongues', and healing where there was no hope.

This is despite being a cynic, skeptic, and possessed of the middle name of "Thomas". (Yeah, that doubting Apostle.)

There is coincidence and there is Providence. After six months Camino-ing over five years, I no longer need to be beat over the head with a clue-stick to discern the difference.

2) I finally grok the Sermon on the Mount! It only took 60 years but perhaps I am a slow learner.

3) While never very materialistic, it appears hard for me to even budge the needle on that dial any more. The Camino-induced simplicity is too great a lesson to ignore. This introduced tension into many relationships and I had to let those go. Seeing that what I do for a living is set among "getters"/"spenders"/"status"-oriented people...well, it has hit my wallet. And, this does not bother me a bit....even if it keeps me from walking the Camino again.

4) My top Camino lesson? “I am loved, my task is to be loving.” Now, I am not a warm, fuzzy type of person. Being "loving" does not mean that I abandon my fundamentally critical nature. It means that I accept what, and who, comes before me without prejudice. (I walk with a heavy staff just in case the object of my acceptance decides to not return the favor.)

I am happy to correspond with you via PM if you need more than this. A lot of what I have learned seems too personal for public exhibit.

B

PS. I look at the above post and I have been honest. yet, it could seem that I am a good person from the scribblings. Nope, I'm about as broken as a human can get. (Not like there's a contest about that...)