First a word of explanation, Rachel has a wonderful and colorful view of life and she is recording her experience (sometimes quite humorously so) at https://ramills03.wordpress.com. And Sue is writing a wonderful blog at suescamino.blogspot.com which is full of all the detail of our journey. Its not that I don't enjoy details because I do. And its not that I don't enjoy wonderful and happy stories because I do. But its because Rachel and Sue are so much better at their writing than I could ever be that I refer you to their posts and stay tuned here for my rumination and reflections on the journey.
I have only arrived at our start point for the Camino as we journeyed by taxi from St Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles by taxi (thank God for big favors and great advice.) We drove for 45 minutes to cover 30 kilometers (18 miles) and for 40 minutes we climbed and climbed and climbed - my hat is off to whoever would and can make that hike! And we are in Basque country…and the Camino has already taught me a lesson. To speak of this lesson I have to return to what we experienced on the trip here. While in Chicago, as you know, our flight was cancelled. The behavior I witnessed was appalling! People from all walks of life converge at the counter to hear the news that the flight is cancelled and the reaction was, well, frankly embarrassing. As though the poor workers personally tried to inconvenience us, I will leave it at that and you can use your imagination. But in Basque country it is different. On the Camino life is changed. The people (the locals) are filled with contentment and cheerfulness - they are filled with joy. From the taxi driver today to our hotel clerk and our “waiter” during our lunch - they were filled with these attributes and those attributes are in direct conflict with the attitudes I experienced during our travels here. It is my prayer that these attributes will find a place in me, and that I will find contentment and joy…such that will become so real that it will likewise be contagious for those around me.
Ultreya!