I'm in Astorga, and the sun is just starting to go down on what has been a great day weather and walking wise.
Where to start?
Over 1,000,000,000 footsteps!!!!!
Kenneth, the danish man who I haven't seen in a while (he's ahead), told me he thought about the 500 miles and seeing he was a math teacher and all he did some work.
It will be over 1,000,000,000 (that's ONE MILLION) footsteps before I arrive in Santiago.
Cool fact, I thought.
Just like 86,400 seconds in a day, or 525,600 minutes in a year.
Where are your next 1MM footsteps taking you????
Me, I'm going to Santiago, then I'm going to "THE WATER"!!!!.
Finisterre, the former end of the world until 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue and didn't fall off the edge of the earth.
But, before the water we have the MOUNTAINS-- I know it's meters this time, and the climb over the next few days will take us up to 5000 feet, the highest point on the Camino-- and of course we get to go down and then back up again a few days later as we head into the more challenging part of the walk for terrain and weather. It is clear the rest I took in Leon served my legs and feet well. I will need it for the up and downs ahead.
I am back on the trail after 2 nights in Leon with whatever sickness I had, I am feeling much better and walked yesterday (friday) and now today I am back in a groove as I've left the city, and it's noise and suburbia around it, behind. The path is peaceful and tranquil, allowing me time to think and reflect.
To the Water--- it's a chapter in Isaiah-- Chapter 55-- about how God invites all those who are thirsty, or in need, to "come to the water".
It's Old Testament, but I thought of it today as I thought about going to the water.
I love the water--- I love the ocean, either in it or sitting on the beach next to it; I love hot showers, or cold ones in the summer heat---and here I am going back to the water. A million plus footsteps later, but I'm getting there. Astorga is ahead of me, and so are all my new friends I will make. I had dinner last night with a Spanish family, the four of us the only ones at the albergue.
Just stopped in Hospital de Orbigo--go on the web and check out this "bridge"--it has a connection and may have been the inspiration behind
Don Quixote--met a family of New Zealanders into the cafe-- 2 boys 18 or so and mom and dad--looking all healthy and all--and they started 5 days behind me--man am I slow!!!
So old friends ahead, but new friends to make, and new stories, to hear.
I got a nice email from Simona ahead, telling me everyone was missing me and when would I catch up--- the community of pilgrims becomes a family quite easily. I have to figure out how top catch them, Alain and Monique, Simona and Giovanni, Kelty--they are all a day ahead now.
Old Testament-- that reminds me to tell you that some of the best, clearest, and beautiful sermons I have ever heard came from a ??? RABBI. Rabbi Joe was a good friend and Rabbi to a good friend of mine-- and that Isaiah passage made me think of my favorite priest, but it also made me think of Rabbi Joe. I remember his speaking, and the way he would tailor his talk (almost for me) to make sure all who were witnessing the Bar/Bat Mitzvah/memorial service were following, understanding the significance of the ceremony and the meaning of it all. I found his ability to connect with everyone, young, old, cool/hip and all to be quite unique and beautiful. I mean, it's a gift--to be able to communicate and connect people, and to give a message of love and tradition and sacredness, all in one. Few have that gift. Fortunately for me, I know a few of those few.
Anyway, that got me to thinking about my children today, each of them as individuals and what wonderful kids they are and have been in my/our (liz/me) life. I had a lot of fun growing up, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, watching your kids have joy is so much greater than your own joy (and also pain is so much tougher). I've enjoyed, and experienced the heights of that joy as my children have grown, and I am hoping/guessing it only gets better!!!
We watched Liz's nephew get married, and now we are watching with anxious amazement as this kid I met when he was like 6 or 8 or something, now we're watching as he and his wife have a BABY soon!!! HOLY COW!!!! I suspect his parents can't contain their own amazement.
It's a gift, that's for sure. It is so true how each person is so individual and different from the next, even if their genes match. I've got three kids, and I love each of them for their "individualness". The girls, well there just plain different people. And the boy, Matt--- he can't be compared because he's a boy-- but they all grew up in the same house with the same parents (and are still growing up, I might add, as is their Dad!!!).
Rabbi Joe, Fr Kev, the Jesuits at G'Town, they all are so talented, in my opinion, to put these feelings into words that allow one to trancend the place we are at, and appreciate it from above. The God-liness of it all.
The miracle of having children, or the incredible giving of oneself to adopt children (a child), has a gift of giving that never stops. And as many have said, there are two sides to the story-- but the gift in itself only has one side, and that side is unique and special(a blessing).
So today's walk had me thinking about my own life, but really thinking about how much I am enjoying the lives of our children.
I am praying for their safe watch, and for same for our family and friends' children as well.
I remember Amy Grant, at Radio City Music Hall, in 1994. Her 'then' husband, Gary Chapman, opened for her (we didn't know who he was, but I found out). Well, he closed his set with an amazing song titled "Sweet Jesus", about a River, an old man (80), and a young mother and her baby boy-- and a flood where the mother and child are caught in the water and the old man, fishing, comes to rescue them, but the mother knows he can only save one, so she gives him the child-- and then he swims to shore, puts the boy safe, and dies--
The WATER still has me!!!
)--and it has been one of my favorite songs ever since.
And the mother, then the old man
Sing
"Sweet Jesus, please won't you hear us, save us"
"Then he was swimming, like he was 20, he made shoreline, then he died"
"Sweet Jesus, please you catch us, save us"
Then it's the boy, now a man, singing
I miss them,
They are the soul inside the man I am,
I bear their dreams
I am walking in their footsteps
I am talking to their God
Sweet Jesus, catch us, save us, hear us"
Well, I hope you get the gist and also hope you can find it should you be moved to-- I can email it should you really want to hear it when I return-
The WATER is covered-- now it's the child(children).
Amy Grant comes onstage, and she is beautiful in sound and the message she has for this crowd. We are in the 8th row center(liz, me, Camy, a friend and her mom), on the aisle so right in the middle enjoying a great show. What amazed me was the number of teenagers who knew every word, every song, and their enthusiasm (Camy was 8yrs old).
So Amy Grant starts singing "For the Children of the World"
"For the children of the world
Every single boy and girl
Heaven plants a special seed,
And we must have faith for these"
"And give them the light of LOVE to lead"
And in the middle of the song she seems to "invite" the children to the stage, but no one is going, so I tell Camy to go ahead up there-- and for about two minutes, maybe three, Camy Thees and Amy Grant are dancing on the stage together as she is singing this song, and then about 100 other kids join in.
I've got more stories where that one came from, but suffice it to say that was one of many moments (Allie and Matt moments too, of course, or I'll be accused of playing favorites!!) where I had more fun and joy being DAD versus being me!!!!!
For those of us who are parents, it's a simple message--
Provide them (our children, God's children) the light of LOVE, to lead-- the rest will take care of itself.
from Astorga, Spain, some (math facts again) 330 miles into the Camino, with about 170 to go--
Peace
TT
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