Are you yearning for an adventure? How about one that is an internal adventure as well?
There is an experience that has been commonly described as "life changing" by nearly everyone who has attempted it. It involves about a month of time, a lot of personal effort, and the willingness to take the first step...and a lot of steps afterwards.
The adventure? The famed El Camino de Santiago. A 500 mile walking pilgrimage across northern Spain and/or parts of France. Similar to the Appalachian Trail in the U.S., the Camino de Santiago crosses countless villages, 4 mountain ranges, and expansive stretches of open country that allow for a unique life experience.
The external adventure is definitely worth the price of admission, but it is the internal adventure that makes the experience life-changing.
Adventurers attempt "El Camino" for many different reasons, but all find that the time spent in deep thought creates a clarity of insight(s) that forever enhances the quality of Life afterwards.
So, how much is THAT worth?
Along the journey, a common phrase is "Buen Camino", (which literally means "good path") is generally received as "good luck and happy travelling". It also has a deeper meaning - an acknowledgment that you see a person who is searching for "perfection". This is related to the "pilgrimage" intent. Becoming your best self - what God intends - is the goal.
How are you "doing" your life? Are you merely existing and going with whatever happens by default? Or are you purposefully living your unique life by design?
Whether it is a month-long pilgrimage across a foreign country or simply a series of daily meditative minutes to yourself before you start your day, I hope that you take some time to ponder HOW you want to live your life's journey - so you have a "Buen Camino"!
Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!
There is an experience that has been commonly described as "life changing" by nearly everyone who has attempted it. It involves about a month of time, a lot of personal effort, and the willingness to take the first step...and a lot of steps afterwards.
The adventure? The famed El Camino de Santiago. A 500 mile walking pilgrimage across northern Spain and/or parts of France. Similar to the Appalachian Trail in the U.S., the Camino de Santiago crosses countless villages, 4 mountain ranges, and expansive stretches of open country that allow for a unique life experience.
The external adventure is definitely worth the price of admission, but it is the internal adventure that makes the experience life-changing.
Adventurers attempt "El Camino" for many different reasons, but all find that the time spent in deep thought creates a clarity of insight(s) that forever enhances the quality of Life afterwards.
So, how much is THAT worth?
Along the journey, a common phrase is "Buen Camino", (which literally means "good path") is generally received as "good luck and happy travelling". It also has a deeper meaning - an acknowledgment that you see a person who is searching for "perfection". This is related to the "pilgrimage" intent. Becoming your best self - what God intends - is the goal.
How are you "doing" your life? Are you merely existing and going with whatever happens by default? Or are you purposefully living your unique life by design?
Whether it is a month-long pilgrimage across a foreign country or simply a series of daily meditative minutes to yourself before you start your day, I hope that you take some time to ponder HOW you want to live your life's journey - so you have a "Buen Camino"!
Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!
2 comments:
Greetings Mark David Jones - just saw this old posting about buen Camino. We're leaving to walk 300kms of it and was researching the term. Your comment that it's deeper meaning is about perfection caused my soul to shrink a bit. Not sure exactly what you meant - texting is so incomplete - but felt I needed to express my resistance to having to become perfect and my openness to letting the Divine transform me into who I was created to be, using whatever means possible - including the Camino. Blessings
A wishing of "grace" upon another is no reason to get one's hackles up.. the game becomes to "allow" others their experiences and to do so with aplomb and "well wishes" or, at the very least, an expectation that each is "doing the best they can." After all, we are all still practicing and learning and making mistakes. It is in the discovery of our similarities (mistakes and all), that we begin to get it right, relax and let go a bit more.. Possible anyone who walks this trail will come to an introspective moment and realize "that all is well.." And that allowing others is part of that appreciation.
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