...1 million steps 2 freedom...

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Showing posts from November, 2023

2. DEPARTURE

2. Departure - The Moment Of Radical Innocence October 29-30, 2011 The changing of the clock to winter time has left me confused and I’m at the Galway coach station two hours too early. Today is Laura’s first birthday, Michael D Higgins has been elected President of Ireland and I’m moving towards the Camino. It feels like standing on the edge of a cliff, taking a step into the unknown mystery of the future. In confession this morning the priest told me not to look back but to move forward in the Spirit. Apt advice for this journey. So here goes! People have poured a host of negative questions on this trip - will I be able for it, it’s a terrible time of the year, the weather will be awful and I will be isolated. Of course I listened and had my doubts but the greater power is in the call to this pilgrimage. “...when I think I have lost my foothold, your mercy Lord holds me up” - a psalm from todays Mass and from St. James himself “...the testing of your faith g

27. O'Cebreiro - Whoever Welcomes A Little Child

November 26, 2011 The church in Ocebreiro (Photo by Mark Teiwes) "I will betroth you to myself for ever, betroth you with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love; I will betroth you to myself in faithfulness and you will come to know the Lord." (Hosea 2:21-22) We had 30k walk today, with about 10k up a steady hill. My foot survived it with the help of Mark's stick and a lot of ibuprofen. Brend likes happy music and so some Abba songs were sung. What a wonderful day - weather, mountains, colours, animals and arriving here just after dark singing 'Jingle Bells'. We were Mark, Becky, Brend, Kathrin and me. It was during the 10k climb that Brend looked at me with such concern and said "if you are not able to walk, we will carry you!" The Franciscan church was open so we went in to hear the sound of 'Bless The Lord My Soul' being played. Mark started to sing it and we all joined in. Beautiful. In front of a side alta

33. MUXIA & GOING HOME - I Can't Forget

December 3, 2011 Had a great sleep. After breakfast I headed to the bus station for the trip to Muxia, half hoping that Becky & Mark might turn up. Their plan is to go to Finistera and maybe connect with Brend...but what do you know they turn up for the bus to Muxia becasue the other trip would be too long. They assure me that they would not invade my solitude but I'm really glad to be with them, not wanting too much solitude after the emotion and excitement of yesterday. We had a beautiful day together and Muxia did not disappoint - the church on the edge of the sea, the waves. Wonderful. When I got back there was a note on my door from Aelfred who had hoped to see me before he moved on. "I can't or shan't forget those early days of the Camino and our time of walking..." he wrote. It was memorable for me too. December 4, 2011 Santiago Cathedral 8.45 a.m. "Even as you Father are in me and I am in you, so let them be in us

32. SANTIAGO

December 2, 2011 Got up at 4.00 a.m.while all others were sleeping, had coffee and chocolate from the machine and set out on the final leg of the journey. The reason for leaving so early was to give myself a head start in the hope of reaching Santiago Cathedral for the pilgrim Mass at noon. The others would follow and catch up. The first few hours were mainly through woodland and darkness. The occasional clearing in the woods, the parting of the clouds revealed the magnificent starry sky before dawn but otherwise it rained heavily and the going was tough enough with the handicap of my limping foot. The guiding yellow arrows were hard to see and I had to pause often and gaze intently before catching sight of the right direction. Travelling like that alone through the dark woods was a unique experience. There's more than a Small Measure of Peace in a haunting kind of way. Mark gave me his headlight, without which the early part of the journey would have been impossible. I look

22. MAZARIFE - The Sound Of The Beloved

November 20, 2011 Sunday I got up at 6am so I could go to Mass in San Isodoro. The nun preparing breakfast gave me coffee before leaving. Aelfred, Lorna & Miguel were also up. Bilal emerged looking frail. I urged him to eat properly because he's a big guy who needs plenty of nourishment. Leaving the albergue at the same time were Christine and Walter whom I had met for the first time yesterday. I thought they were a couple but they are mother and son, she being Korean born who moved to San Francisco where Walter was born. I guided them to the way out of the city and then went to Mass which was very beautiful. It was still dark and raining when I came out from Mass and it was hard to see the yellow arrows of the Camino, so I went for coffee and waited for the light. Later when I came on Christine & Walter she asked if I'm a priest and when I asked how she knew she said "you have an aura!" Mmmm? Around midday when I paused for a rest

28. BRING HIM HOME - Silence Has Deepened

November 27, 2011 Sarria "...we basically remain without shelter, under way and open until the final encounter, with all the humble blessedness and painful pleasure of this openness" (Fr. Alfred Delp SJ) Yesterday was spent alone and it had an extraordinary level of silence, beginning with another beautiful dawn and the sun shone the whole day as I walked through mountains, valleys and small farming villages. Alone, except for breakfast in a little village with Brend. As far back as Logrono I had said I would be with him for his birthday but with the pain in my foot I knew I wouldn't make it as far as Samos where he was headed. So I invited him for breakfast as a birthday treat. It was lovely but it had a certain loneliness in it because it was like we were saying goodbye. He looked directly at me and said in a wistful way "will you not come with me to Samos?" and I wished to God I could but knew I wouldn't be able for that distance. Maybe if