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May
20
By Janet J. Seahorn, Ph.D.
(Photos and pilgrimage credit: Diggs Brown)
How many of you know about the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage? It is a five hundred mile walk from Southern France to Spain, but it can take many different routes. “The Way of St. James” was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages, together with those to Rome and Jerusalem, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned;[3]other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Legend holds that St. James‘s remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain, where he was buried on what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela.
The Way can take dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one’s home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However, a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims per year arrived in Santiago. Later, the route attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. In October 1987, the route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe; it was also named one of UNESCO‘s World Heritage Sites. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago)”
One of our friends, a veteran who served in Iraq, is currently on the arduous Camino journey. He began in France and is expected to take at least a month to complete the mission. On the first day of his walk, seventeen miles, resulted in some pretty ghastly blisters on his heels. Not a good way to start such a lengthy trek. Yet, in spite of the pain, foot sores, and body aches he continued his travel. The reason for taking such a quest is a personal objective of which the pilgrim only knows. He may or may not have a specific reason for going through this venture. It may be finding some external spiritual enlightenment. It may be finding answers to questions regarding life that he is still forming.
For him the reason isn’t as important as the path he is traveling, He is finding his own Way as he walks each step. Some days he says he’s content to be able to empty his mind and observe the scenery, the quiet, the road only as it appears. Perhaps by doing so, he is able to release some of the anxiety, demons, we all seem to collect throughout our life; for him especially his time in Iraq. What is crucial to this endeavor is principally the act of the doing. He is open to find whatever he finds.
Perhaps this is the essence of any real journey/challenge… the willingness to not fully know or even expect a certain outcome, but the ability to merely accept whatever may come forth and acquire gratitude for whatever may ensue.
I’m not sure I would be able, brave enough or even want to engage in such a venture. It would take a tremendous amount of stamina and trust to do so. Our friend in one of his comments talked about an 84 year old man who is on his fifth Camino. Amazing, humbling, and truly commendable. Today he is more than half way through his quest. We are eager to hear more about his amazing experience and we say a prayer every day for his safety and well-being.
Thank you Diggs, for sharing your remarkable travels with us. We hope this trip brings you everything you may or may not have imagined. Be well. Be at peace. And return home soon with Arthur where you both are missed.
