A Pilgrim’s Progress: Pastor Joe’s Camino Chronicles

Blog for September 22, 2023

Castrojeriz to Frómista

One feature of some of the hostels is that they offer what they call a “communal meal.”  You have to sign up for this meal whenever you check in, but it is to simulate a meal that you might have with your family back home. Also, it is an opportunity to get to know the people who are staying in the hostel with you.  I sometimes sign up, but not always, because a lot of times they don’t serve the meal until 7:30 or 8:00, and I don’t like to try to sleep on a full stomach. But the meal last night was at 6:30, so I signed up for it.

The food generally is fairly good at these meals – last night it was a pasta salad with chicken and chocolate mousse for dessert.  There were two tables in the dining room, but at our table was a very interesting mix of nationalities. To my left were two men from Brazil. They didn’t know each other until they met on the Camino, and now they are friends traveling together. Across the table to my left was a lady from Texas. I haven’t met too many Americans on the Camino, but she was taking a six-month leave of absence from her work with one of her goals being to walk the Camino. I did feel sorry for her, as she was really struggling with blisters on her feet. Directly across the table from me was a lady from Denmark. She also had problems with blisters, in fact, she had to take three rest days to give her feet a chance to heal. But now that she was walking again, her ankle was bothering her. So she was really frustrated.

Rest area for pilgrims

And then to my right across the table was a young lady from Ukraine. Knowing the war that was going on in her country, I had a list of questions I wanted to ask her, but no doubt she was trying to take a few weeks to just forget the heartache that was taking place among her people. This young lady was actually one of the strongest walkers I have met so far on the Camino. Yesterday she walked 25 miles. Plus, when she got to the village, there were the ruins of a castle on top of a hill and she decided to make that climb and explore that. Then today, even though I left before she did, she came by and just blew my doors off!  She is fast and strong.

Perhaps the life of the party at the table last evening was at my right, what I would’ve considered to be the head of the table. This man was from Australia. I don’t know if you have you seen the movie Crocodile Dundee?  This “mate” could’ve been Dundee’s brother. I don’t know how to describe this man, except that he was the description of cool! He was friendly, sensitive, kind, hilarious – truly a fun person to have at the table!  An interesting fact this Aussie admitted, and it was actually quite humbling for him – he and his wife both started walking the Camino together a few weeks ago. But she was a stronger walker and ended up walking off and leaving him in the dust. I think she’s two stages ahead of where he is right now! He was kind of chuckling about it; they have a city where they’re going to meet up again.

That conversation last night with these people from different countries just made me think of what it’s going to be like in heaven. The Bible says people from all tribes and languages and nations will gather at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And what a great communal meal it will be!

One of the things that has been so refreshing to me has been the simplicity of life on the Camino. Yes, the lodging has been a little stressful at times, and I’ll probably do a post on that in the coming days.  But besides that, there is a simplicity that resonates with me.  When I go to prepare my pack in the evening, it’s easy! I make sure I have one granola bar, a package of crackers, and some trail mix. That’s it for the food! Okay, I lied – I make sure that there’s a tiny package of M&Ms in there as well! But besides my rain gear and my water, that’s it! It’s simple – it takes me about two minutes to ready my pack in the evenings.

When I’m trying to decide what to wear, it’s easy. I brought three pair of pants and four shirts. I cycle through them and when they’re dirty, I do laundry. My wife would be a little bit embarrassed, but I don’t even try to match things.  Whatever’s clean, I throw them on.  When it comes to shoes, I don’t have to look at 5 or 10 pairs of shoes to figure out what matches my mismatched outfit! I brought ONE pair of hiking shoes!  It’s easy – I know what I’m going to wear!

I’m finding out the simplicity of the Camino has allowed me to be impacted and awed by small things.   As I walked today, I began thinking, Lord, you are really doing something special in my life. You’re helping me to experience awe in the simplicity of the small things. I began praying, “Lord, how can I go back to my home and bring into my life and my family and maybe even the church a more simplistic approach to life?”

I know we can’t go back to the days of Mayberry, and that was not the perfect utopia anyway. But what can I personally do to develop a more simplistic life? A life where I could be awed and impressed by even little things – such as a simple cross along the way, or an incredible sunrise like I saw again today.  I want to be in a frame of mind where God can get my attention through small things. And frankly this post is not really for you today. I’m glad you’re reading it, but this is for me. Life on the Camino has challenged me to enjoy those moments God provides along the way!  Today, I asked the question, “How I can simplify my life?”

Since you’re reading this, maybe that would be a good question for you to ask as well. What can we all do, what SHOULD we all do on the Camino of Life to be in a place where we can be awed by the simple things God places in our pathway?

Thanks for listening in on God’s lessons for this pilgrim today!

Approximate total miles: 560

Approximate miles walked today: 15

Approximate miles remaining: 339