Very old words for the road...

[VNwalking]

Today I have been remembering Santa Theresa de Avila's famous words...she who was no stranger to adversity or trying times. If I (we) can take her advice here and on the Camino it will serve very well. Many (most?) will already be familiar with this but I share it because it's such an inspiring reminder of the big picture.
(I take a lot of comfort that this was written in her own handwriting in her breviary, her advice to herself, and a gift to us. Even she was not above the need for encouragement...)

Nada te turbe,
nada te espante,
todo se pasa,
Dios no se muda;
la paciencia
todo lo alcanza;
quien a Dios tiene
nada le falta:
Sólo Dios basta.

Eleva tu pensamiento,
al cielo sube,
por nada te acongojes,
nada te turbe....
(She goes on)

Let nothing disturb you,
let nothing frighten you
everything passes
[but] God never changes.
Patience reaches all;
he who has God
lacks nothing;
God alone is enough.

Lift your thinking,
raise it up to heaven;
let nothing dismay you,
let nothing disturb you....

I hope we can all relax, trust in God, but tie our camels.

Buen Camino to one and all...especially to the many of you who are on the road right now or starting soon.
May you have a safe and truly wonderful journey.

[Others may know a better/different translation...it would be interesting to see different interpretations.]

 

[MTtoCamino]

Forgive my ignorance but what/where does " tie our camels" come from & what is the meaning? I have never seen it except on this forum.

 

[VNwalking]

It's from Rumi, a Sufi poet and mystic, and (I believe but am not sure) older Arabic sources.
[Edit--Yes. This from Wikipedia: "Trust in God But Tie Your Camel is an Arab proverb with a similar meaning [To 'God helps those who help themselves']. It is also one of the reported sayings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to Tirmidhi, one day Mohammed noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I placed my trust in Allah." At that, Mohammed said, "Tie your camel and place your trust in Allah."]

 

[Lydia Gillen]

I would express similar sentiment by "Pray to God sailor, but row for the shore."
The Spaniards say something like "Pray to God but keep on Hammering"

Very often the answer to our prayer is to be found by us using the gifts that God has already given us. No point in praying for a safe journey to Santiago and ignoring the yellow arrows !!!