The community of Pilgrims

1&2)- ramblings-
3) Forgiveness-

1&2)
I know what book I will read first when I arrive back home. The "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is second- so no, that's not it.

Paulo Coehlo, "The Pilgrimmage"- will be the first.
PS- it's the only thing I know, other than seeing my family.

I walk and walk, and occasionally I take a wrong turn (poorly marked path today) and walk some more.

I GOOGLE-EARTHED myself- is that a verb yet? TS-check this one!!! Anyway, I had this thought that I was watching myself walk from outside my body, like I went on Google Earth and GPS'd myself-- and was watching the one foot in front of the other. It was, as they say, an out of body experience.

I met a young man from Japan who said he was "navigated" (talking GPS!!) here by God, and thinks his next stop after this is Africa. His view is the world is so unfair to those in the sub-Saharan conntinent and he wants to help.
Many people on this walk seem to have that as a theme-what can they do, personally, to make the world a better place.

Last night I was one of two in the Albergue, tonight I was the last person let in (19th) and will be sleeping on the floor in the biggest city yet, Burgos. I do mean city this time!!!! I went into a cafeteria near the city to get some cafe' and was in SHOCK--- I hadn't seen more than 3 people in one place for weeks, and this diner was PACKED--there were no seats!!! And NOISY!!!
Had my cafe' and I left quickly-- but can't escape the fact that I am going into crowded quarters, at least for a day. It's good timing because the weather has turned cold and my orange sleeveless vest is not going to last much more--so tomorrow it's some shopping for gloves, a warm hat, and a real fleece. Then, some more walking. My right leg above the inside knee muscle didn't feel quite as bad today, so maybe that will subside. But after 8 hours of walking my body is pleased to reach the albergue.

An Australian young man (30yrs old) passed me today (okay, so I'm traveling 3-3 1/2 miles an hour, and he flew by me at 4+mph!!!! Alex, it turns out, is on the Camino as part of his PHD-- his topic? Religious Tourism-- he is walking the camino and spending time in India.

3)
So, occasionally I walk with my IPOD and listen and see what comes on, especially if I'm near a road where the music can take flight and the cars and trucks become truly invisible and silent.

A song that has great meaning to me came on the IPOD, "Carry You to Jesus" by Stephen Curtis Chapman. I associate the song with the difficult and sad terminal illness and death of a dear friend a few years ago. It reminded me of him and our times together and his family and how blessed we were to have him in our lives.

But then something else came over me-- it seemed like something big, that I was being told to reflect on.
And I thought of another friend-

There are many ways we can "carry" people to Jesus, and one of them is through showing FORGIVENESS-
Forgiveness--

And about forgiveness/ or giving way when necessary to a partner/friend.
Sometimes, you just have to let go, and let it go. I was thinking about the times in my life when I received, and when I provided, forgiveness.

And I thought about how much more complicated my life would have been without forgiveness. What IF??
What if I NEVER forgave what needed to be forgiven-- and what if I never had received it?

I see so many issues that could be either resolved or radically improved if one embraces forgiveness. It is as if you don't provide forgiveness, then the seed of that grudge/ax/problem stays with you- forever- and never moves from that point forward. And everytime you think of that person all you can think of is what THEY did- when the alternative is clearly there to MOVE BEYOND. For yourself, not for them. Because withholding forgiveness puts a burden on yourself, and may or may not inflict the revenge you desire/intend-- What if the other person has moved on??!!! "Hey, I made a mistake, and I'm moving on and hope you do to"--But you're sitting at the TOLL BOOTH of LIFE awaiting some payment for that mistake--some people wait their whole lives!! And, simply, we can "Carry people to Jesus", or peace, if we provide forgiveness, even when they don't deserve it, but especially when they do. And that allows us to move on, move beyond, and let it go.
A friend, a partner (or former partner especially), child-- wherever we provide it--
Matthew 18:21-35. The parable on forgiveness. The unmerciful servant on forgiveness. In short form-

Peter to Jesus-- should I forgive my brother 7 times? Jesus to Peter-no, not seven times but seventy times seven!!! 70X7 FOR EMPHASIS
So, Jesus says 7X70, but all you have to do is that once that provides you the peace that is waiting on the other side of that gesture.

And that, my friends, is most of what I thought about yesterday.

Peace,
TT

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