Smiling, "Tightening Up" groove, and the "power" of prayer

Smiling

Not dialing, just smiling and walking--

I arrived in Ponferrada, home of the 'Castle of the Templars', an 800 year old Castle that is one of the highlights of the trip-- and my calf muscles were killing me from the mountains ups/downs of the day before, but started my walk out of the city when I ran into 2 Spanish Pilgrims who suggested/insisted I see the Museo "Yo Camino", which was not in my book. Well, I "almost" missed it--again, but on this Camino things just SEEM to happen--i mean, you're never lost, you're always "on your way", there is "no rush" and there is NO SCORECARD--everyone has their OWN CAMINO-not someone else's. So, I went into the Museo, and I saw 500 - 1000 year old artifacts of the Pilgrim's walk, and where it has taken some (the numerous Pope's, St Francis of Asissi, 500 year old bible's!!!) - statues/carvings/paintings of St James (Santiago in Spanish!!!), Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and it was quite a presentation I "almost" missed. But someone made sure I didn't. I spent about an hour being a "tourist", a first for this Camino (I toured the Castle too!!! Cool enough for a castle). Anyway, the finish of the "Yo Camino" presentation is this very, very long walk through a temporary structure that is a virtual map of the Camino de Santiago itself, and it reiminded me of all the places I've been and of those where I am going---and it made me melancholy!!! I REALLY am close to finishing this Camino, my Camino, and that thought has rarely crossed my mind. I miss my family, and I have thought about how great it will be to be back home again, but right now I am also thinking about being "close" to the finish, and that both a GREAT and also a ???? Not sure of the word??? I WILL MISS THIS, when it ends.
I mean, this has been incredible, so how do you package it up and take it home with you?

I want to continue my experience, and let it take me where it does, as fast (or as slow) as it does, as it is MY CAMINO, so it will be finsihed when I know in my heart I have reached the end. I can't even think of it, but I know it's a lot closer than it was-- I think some people stay overnight a few nights in ONE town to "prolong" their experience-- Me, I stayed overnight in Leon because I was sick, and I stayed in Pronferrada (short distance from Molineseca) because my calves where burning, but also because it just happened that way-- if I hadn't run into those Spanaird's I would have missed the "Yo Camino" and then kept walking.

As it is, I am up the next day cheery-eyed, well rested legs, and SMILING-- it's Wednesday, I am forgetting how tired I was monday night and how pained/strained my calves were yesterday. It's a new day, and I am EXCITED to be walking after the tourist experience yesterday (which was both secular and somewhat SACRED all in one)-- I'm so excited, and I am in a relatively crowded city on my way out, I decide it's appropriate to block out the NOISE of the cars--

So I put my IPOD to work-- I want to "make it mellow", so I select a band from Houston, Texas, that knows how to "make it mellow", and Archie Bell & the Drells "Tighten Up" is on the IPOD--and I am almost bopping down the street (at times I hop, right when the music kicks it) and people are looking at this pilgrim "bopping", almost dancing, with this 30 pound backpack on his back, and one damn-ugly hat!!!!! But I've got my rythym, and I've got this HUGE, HUGE SMILE I am greeting people with-- and it's having it's intended effect-- They ARE smiling back--"buenos", "ola", "buen camino" are some of what I heard back (took one ear out when I approached people)-- and I stopped in a gas station and the two people in there we're all "lift-me-up" positive too!!!!! "Tighten Up" is on my RnB to GO playlist, so "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now" comes on randomly NEXT, and that gets me even MORE BOPPING!!!
And I remember that song being the theme song of the 1984 championship run for the Hoyas, and I remember being in Seattle, Washington with G'Twon down like 12 points to Kentucky at halftime, and I remember Ronny B and me saying to each other --It's OVER-- KENTUCKY doesn't have a PRAYER because their AIN't NO STOPPIN US!!!!!!and we were LOSING by 12!!!!! Smiling ALL THE WHILE!!!!

I remember SMILING !!!!!! I remember one time I was smiling so much it took all the moisture out of my mouth-- I was standing at the Altar waiting for my bride-to-be to walk down the aisle, and she was just taking her first steps toward me, and I was brim-to-brim smiling and happy-- and all I had we're two words the whole ceremony but by the time they got to me and I had to say them I had virtually no moisture in my body, let alone my mouth, so people we're wondering if I had responded-- but my now wife saw me mouth "I do", so that was good enough for Fr Joe, who had seen enough freezing on Altar's to know I was frozen, but in a "good" way because I was smiling the whole time.

So I'm walking and smiling today, and you know I can't even mention the WEATHER--okay, it's cold, cold enough to start out in hat and gloves and wearing almost everything in my sack, but you know I DO NOT have water-proof shoes because all the shoe's I tried just killed my feet--today I'm wearing my Teva sandals to give my sneakers a break-- so I am NOT prepared for a very WET walk---and since that day I sang "Sunshine on my Shoulder" that is where the Sun has been--warm or cold--it's been sunny on my shoulders, and all these pilgrims, like the Scottsman who just left the cafe/bar I am typing these words from (this is his 12th Camino!!!), well all these experienced Pilgrim's are telling me they've NEVER, EVER seen Spain so dry-- (again, My Fair Lady, "the rain in Spain falls mainly on the Plain"-- we'll I've been on the plain for 200 miles without a DROP!!!) yes, I am knocking on wood as I write this, but I also tell them it's "My Angels"-- it's My Camino, and I "NEEDED" it to be dry, and I NEEDED to TIGHTEN UP, and have a "GROOVE", for today---and I just felt like smiling, concentrating on that like I have been when I'm praying for someone, and the smiling works, so now I think I'll pray all those prayer's do "Something, Anything" (that's a Todd Rundgren album, by the way) to effect the needs those prayers are being prayed for. The sick, the needy, the already decease people I am remembering,, the those still very much alive, the friends, the family of those friends, MY FAMILY (the immediate and the larger, greater one)---so this afternoon I'm thinking I'll pray for those prayers, my prayers, to help--all the places I've scattered them--to help ease pain, burden, suffering just a little. I mean, I am "getting what I need here, so I'm praying those others "get what they need" too.

And that LEADS me to Walter Ciszek S.J. - American Jesuit who wrote "He Leadeth Me", about his 20+ years in captivity in Russia--
Okay, how did he get to Russia? Well, first he VOLUNTEERED!!!!! in the 1930's to go there when the Pope asked for volunteers to go behind the Iron Curtain as missionaries to convert people to the teachings of Jesus---he volunteered, and went to Poland, then he got a fake ID and went across the border to the Soviet Union--b/c of course PRIEST's weren't invited!!- and started saying Mass as quietly as an unknown priest can--but eventually he was caught and incarcerated, many years in solitary, and then Siberia if I recall correctly. Anyway, he was released after 20-25 years and came back to a place (home in the US) he didn't recognize in the early 1960's. But he was once again free--FREE-- well, he wrote the words below, which I noted when I read his book this past February (it was in one of my updates!!!)--

And Father Ciszek said:

"The power of prayer reaches beyond all efforts of man seeking to find meaning in his life. This power is available to all; it can transform man's weaknesses, limitations and his sufferings"--

I figure he should know, because he certainly suffered through incredible times and prayer helped him through it---and I am praying for any small transformation's that might take place through my prayers, including those that I might need myself.

Half the day over, ready to re-commence my walk, thinking I've already had a great, great day, and wishing anyone reading this and "starting" their day has a

And now on the cafe's radio station it's Bruce and "Sad Eyes"--- no "tighten up", but if I see any 'sad eyes' this afternoon on my afternoon walk I'll turn em with just a SMILE--
Because they're "ain't no stoppin" me now----

Peace, near VillaFranca del Bierzo, Spain

Have a GREAT DAY SMILING-
Peace
TT

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