Caledonia Times

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Caledonia Times

Happy Easter, Caledonia! March 2013 The Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal

A Reflection on the Camino de Santiago

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By The Rev. Daphne Moser

t has been said of the Camino trail that, “We walked 800km (500miles) to go to church.” The pilgrim mass at the Cathedral in Santiago with the huge incense burner, was indeed one of the highlights of my pilgrimage. But the walk was not just about the destination but the journey. Five weeks of walking from St. Jean Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago, Spain was indeed a journey for me, both physically and spiritually. The Camino has a long history of pilgrims walking from any point in Europe to the place in Santiago, where myth tells us the bones of James the Greater, disciple of Jesus are buried. As we walked the trail I was cognizant of the thousands of footsteps that had gone before me – and the thousands that continue to walk this path or one of the other paths that all converge on Santiago. I carried a relatively light pack with quick dry clothing. Imagine those ancient pilgrims with their heavy wool cloaks and a staff, entirely dependent on the hospitality of the local people. There was evidence of tiny refuges along the trail where they might have slept. Not everyone made the destination. Along the route were many memorials to those who had undertaken this pilgrimage as their last earthly journey and had died on the trail. Day 2 of this epic journey was a turning point for me. We had walked over 30km over hilly terrain on the first day. Day 2 was supposed to be shorter, only 23km. However when we reached the small community of Zubiri we discovered there was no accommodation left. No room at the inn! Our only option was to walk another 5 km. It was late in the day and once again, no room

Cross of the Camino de Santiago. Photo: Adrian Nunez

Ready for the trail. Photo: The Rev. Daphne Moser

The scallop shell, a symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Photo: Roberaten

Evidence of tiny refuges along the trail. Photo: Marlio Bertomeu

at the inn! Not any inn. No stables, or mangers, no place to lay our weary bodies. As I sat on the edge of the sidewalk – totally exhausted I heard someone say “Be by that house in 10 minutes. A taxi took take us into Pamplona where there was a pension with five beds.” In my mind I was going to walk every step of this pilgrimage, but here on Day 2 this intention was challenged. As

I reflected on this incident, I was intimately aware of how our Lord was working. I was not getting what I thought I wanted or expected but what I needed. This happened over and over again in our five-week journey. The residents of Northern Spain who we encountered along the way certainly reflected Jesus working in their lives. Every day was a gift in the way that Jesus appeared

to us through the lives of others. When we were tired and hungry, tables of food appeared at the edge of the trail. Sometimes it was free and others were asking for a donation. I was reminded of Jesus’ words, “when I was hungry and you gave me food, when I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35) Jesus appeared to us in the workers at coffee bars, in the people on the street who directed us back to the trail when we were off course. On many evenings there was a pilgrim mass held in the local church. Priests welcomed the pilgrims and blessed us on our journey. Everyone served us humbly and with such grace. We chose to stay mostly in albergues, which were hostel type accommodations. I was reminded to thank God that our needs were being met and to appreciate the places that were shared with us. An occasional night in a pension or small hotel was a luxury. We had our own bathroom and shower and slept soundly without the nightly cacophony of snoring pilgrims. The same applied to food. Every evening we had access to a pilgrim menu: a three-course meal including water and vino tinto for a very reasonable 8-10 Euros. I wouldn’t class it as haute cuisine but it was good standard fare that met

our physical needs at a very reasonable price. Our fellow travellers of every creed and nationality also blessed us: young and old, fit and less fit. Those who struggled in the early stages came rushing past us as our journey came to an end. One 65-year-old man had walked all the way from Belgium, a mere 2,021 km. It is near impossible to walk the Camino and not be changed in some way. There were many lessons of the Camino but ultimately the biggest was to trust in the Lord and be grateful for all that we received. I was blessed by the gifts received, the companions along the way and also happy feet! We traveled as a group of six but each one had experienced their own Camino. Initially it was a challenge to reintegrate into home life. It took time to make that transition. The journey continues for each one of us – not as we expect but as we need. Now I look at each stage of my life as another Camino with the challenges set before me. The experience on the trail has reminded me once again that, by the grace of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is behind me, before me, beside me and within me. He will carry me through. If you are interested in more details I kept a blog of the journey at daphnescamino.blogspot.ca

Episcopal Sabbath Rest The Bishop will be taking a Sabbatical starting the first Monday of March through the end of May. He will do his sabbatical in two parts, from March 4 to Maundy Thursday when he will join the Cathedral Congregation for Holy Week, including Easter Day, March 30th. He will then resume his sabbatical and return to the Synod Office in Late May or early June. In his absence the Dean and the Archdeacon will share the duties of the Commissary. to reach the Commissary on duty, please call the Synod Office or the respective cell phone numbers for the Dean and the Archdeacon.


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