Completed a 14 mile leg today from Najera to Santo Domingo today. SD is a city of about 6,600 people, and provides many modern conveniences such as an active wifi system that allows us to interact with the rest of the world.
It’s a strange feeling, to be disconnected. I think back to my younger years, before google, email, internet, and even computers. Stationed overseas in southern Italy, if one wanted to know what was going on in the world, the only means available was the Stars and Stripes (newspaper for military). I have become so accustomed to information at my fingertips, from news and sports to emails, maps, and translations…and banking. And just two weeks ago we were able to completely reroute our transportation and connections to get to the Camino when our flight out of Chicago was cancelled at midnight - that was a good thing. So while there are so many pluses to having that information at hand, I wonder if there are not also hazards to it?
At first, it was frustrating…not being able to “be connected”. But then acceptance comes and one takes the next step in the journey. With or without connection, life goes on and we have our packs, our boots, and our next town, or hill, or cafe in sight — and off we go.
So, back to this whole idea of sabbath. Does dis-connection play a part? I have to admit, when we do get to a place with “free wifi” we seemingly become digital vultures - feasting on fellowship from the digital world…diving into our phones to connect and see what is happening, who said what, check emails, update news…its all rather addictive. Maybe, just maybe, being disconnected from the internet would allow us all time and focus to become reconnected with God. And wouldn't it be great if we feasted on his fellowship the way we do when we become connected in the digital world?
Speaking of being connected…we have one more day of big city life ahead of us, then we are in the rural areas of the Camino for a number of days (maybe a week or so), so updates to the blog may be quite sporadic or absent entirely during this time…keep us in your prayers as we walk along our “Happy Trails”.
Ultreya!