Well, my pilgrimage has been under way for about a week and a half now (or 2 weeks if you consider the day I left the States) and I must say...pilgrimage s hard! You know, there is a big difference between theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge. Theoretical knowledge is how I know that parenting is hard; practical knowledge is how my parents know exactly how hard parenting is. While I obviously knew beforehand that this journey would be difficult, there was no way for me to know on a real level how hard it would be. So after 12 days I can tell you: my body hurts, my pack is too darn heavy, I'm always tired (and I'm tired of being tired), I'm always hungry (and the French don't eat dinner until 7...at the earliest!), and traveling to a new place every day while carrying everything on my back gets old pretty quick. I must say that the worst part is not having mass in my own tongue. I can figure out the key parts of the mass, but forget about the homily! It is much more difficult than I had anticipated not to have acces to a full participation in the Eucharist. I think that this will be a long summer.
All that being said, it has been an amazing 12 days. I've been traveling through the mountains for the last 4 or 5 days and the landscape has been absolutely breathtaking. Even yesterday when it rained I got to see the clouds rolling in over the mountain tops. I've encountered new plants and animals, eaten new foods (duck in wine sauce, be jealous Nick) and been constantly surrounded by God's glorious creation. And God's providence has gone before me every step of the way; from the gite operator who told me about the trail markings (imagine that: they mark this trail that hundreds of people walk every year...who woulda thought?) to the two English speaking companions (French and German) that I had for a couple days last week on my way into and out of Monpelier. Every time I've encountered a difficulty, God has provided for my needs. So the first lesson of my pilgrimage? Abandonment. It's a scary concept. How do we abandon ourselves completely to God's providence? Well I don't know yet. But I'm going to keep trying. Because one thing is certain: even though I don't always like God's plans right away, and even though they sometimes involve hardships, they always, always, always bring abundant graces into my life. His love is unfathomable; His mercy inexhaustible; His grace unbeatable. I might not perfect it, but I'm going to keep trying to let go, to abandon myself to God's will.
After you left and it was too late for this to be helpful, I was reminded I'd failed you. One of the Standard Obligations of Coloradans (#12, I think it is) is to decrease by half the pack contents of any distance hiker from a non-mountainous region. Balancing the comfort of having the belongings with the comfort of carrying the pack is a skill ordinarly developed only over years of practice...or hundreds of miles of hiking. You'll find it in a few weeks, I'm sure ;o)
ReplyDeletePraying for you for sure! French and Spanish are both Latin-based, so close your eyes during the homily and stop trying to understand it. You'll probably be surprised how much you pick up intuitively if you're listening with your heart instead of your ears!
Michael, thanks for updating us on your pilgrim's progress. Reading about how hard your journey has been, I'm reminded of "The Man in the Arena," by Theodore Roosevelt. If you'll indulge me, here's an excerpt... "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
ReplyDeleteIt's OK to struggle, just stay in there. Know that you are not alone, you're following the footsteps of many untold Saints and sinners, and for what it's worth, I keep you in my prayers daily.
Michael, I'm glad you are learning this lesson. I know it's sucks, but in the long run, it will make your life MUCH more pleasant.
ReplyDeleteComment #2: There is a Rosary dedicated to your soar feet, legs, back, and all the other muscles every day.
Have fun and remember how lucky you are to be able to have this opportunity to grow closer to God in suck a beautiful place.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteYou don't know me, but my husband is in the KOC at St. Malachy in Brownsburg. We watched The Way a day or two before you spoke to his KOC group. I wanted to donate to your cause personally, but time slipped away and now you are on your way.
I'm quite glad to have been introduced to your blog. After reading your first entry, I can only say to be so aware of your thoughts. Keep them as positive as possible for your mind creates your reality. I'm looking forward to following your journey.
Bueno Camino!
Amy Latka
In my brief camino experience God's help came from talking with moustachioed men in pubs and riding in their car to someones house...so, yeah..take from that what you will.
ReplyDeleteBut really, trust in God and all will be well!