Saying YES to the Camino

Pilgrim:  Camino de Santiago

Saying YES to the Camino 1:1

Last October when first the talk of hiking the Camino de Santiago surfaced, it was simply a dream and not anywhere close to reality. 

Years ago I was the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program for the University of Creation Spirituality working alongside with renowned author/theologian/lecturer: Matthew Fox.  When the leadership changed at the University so did the name and it became Wisdom University.  One of the innovations that I had made was to begin gathering students from many places around the country and then around the world.  We would create courses that would best be taught at sacred sites where the experience of being there was more important than anything one could read in a book or take notes at a lecture.  This is how I began making these Sacred Pilgrimages around our country and then in faraway lands.

A significant part of the “on the road” courses were held at Chartres Cathedral in France.   Students would gather for a week long seminar and we would live at Saint Ives, the Monastery attached to the Cathedral.  It was a powerful time of learning and experiencing all things of Spirit.  One day I noticed people standing at the doors of the Cathedral holding scalloped seashells in their hands in a begging gesture.  I asked others, “What is with the folks and the sea shells?”  That was the first time I had heard these words:  “Compostello,” “Camino”, “Santiago”…and to be honest, I didn’t know what they were talking about.  This began my searching to understand what this Pilgrimage was all about and what were the desired destinations.

A close friend and spiritual companion called and asked me if I had ever heard of the Camino de Santiago?  My response was, “Yes, I’ll go!”  Teresa said, “But I didn’t ask you yet.”  I said, “ But I will go.”  So that was the beginning.  I had no idea that something extraordinary was beginning.    I simply knew that I was being invited to GO!  I have heard it said and now I understand the meaning in these words:  “The Pilgrimage begins when you say YES to the Camino!”  Since last October I have been making preparations that I have been unaware of and deeply aware of.  My life has changed on every level of my being.

My Mother died unexpectedly on August 10^th, 2014 and I was in a time of deep mourning and grief.  I was her caregiver and she lived with me.  In addition to having a beautiful relationship as mother and daughter, we were fortunate to be the best of friends and we lived our lives very closely.  Often we travelled together on great adventures.  The last trip I shared with my mom was the Fall of 2013 when I took her on a Riverboat Cruise from New York through inner waterways all the way north of Quebec.  I will never forget that trip.  It was very important to me that she have this “one more opportunity” to do what she loved.  I had Mom, her wheel chair, oxygen, luggage and my luggage.  It was quite a feat and it was wonderfully worth every minute.  At 90 years of age, she still had the wonderment of a child’s eyes every time we went through one of the Locks.  She loved to flirt and enjoyed sharing meals with other passengers.  She brought joy wherever she went.  Her smile was radiant and everyone loved her.

Mom certainly had a mind of her own.  For her 90^th birthday she decided to celebrate with some friends in Steubenville where I was pastoring a church.  Much to the chagrin of the family who wanted her to come back to the Cleveland area to celebrate her 90^th.  Her response was, “ I will be 90 all year.  You can come to visit me throughout the year and it will be a year of celebration.”

So it was in the midst of all of these feelings that the invitation to walk the Camino emerged.

I will turn 70 years this Fall.  I feel that it is time for me to do something different with my life.  When Mom died at nearly 91 years of age, I realized that I would be fortunate to have 20 more years to accomplish whatever I would accomplish in this life time.  The older I get, the faster time flies.  I know that I need to get busy doing what my entire life has prepared me to do.  There are a number of books in my head that need to be written and I have begun a couple of them.  Since my mother’s death I have made the decision to cut back on some of my work related time investments and begin to use the time to accomplish in these 20 years what I feel is my soul’s purpose in being here. 

What I have been describing here is the Pilgrimage of my life.  I see the Camino as another important part of my Life’s Pilgrimage.  I don’t know why.  I don’t know what for.  I don’t have any expectations or investment in outcome.  I simply have begun to prepare and now all of the questions and answers are manifesting in ways that I never expected.