Camino Nutrition

Nutrition on a Camino is very important. When we walked the El Camino de Santiago last year in Spain we had to adjust our diet to accommodate 30 continuous days of walking for stretches of 6 hours or more daily. To ensure that we had enough energy for that daily ordeal - we did carb loading - eating lots of carbohydrates - to build up a store of reserve energy. That worked well for the first two hours - everyone knows that after 15 or 20 minutes of continuous exercise you will deplete both your readily available blood sugar and stored glycogen - putting the body into fat burning mode to fuel continued energy demands. After 2 hours - we stopped to refuel - normally with a drink with readily absorbable carbohydrates - Coke - normal - with sugar. Two hours later - time for more - a bocadilla - ham and cheese sandwich - with another Coke. At the end of the 6 hours of walking - tapas - more carbohydrates - finally dinner - fully loaded 3 course meals - loaded with carbohydrates and wine. A high carbohydrate diet for the entire Camino - in the process - energy levels well maintained - body weight dropped about 15 pounds.

When we consider the nutrition needed on our Lenten Camino - it is not carbohydrates that we need - rather - spiritual resources - time to be quiet with God - time to be alone with our thoughts. Jesus made it very clear - man does not live on bread alone. As spiritual beings - we need to connect our individual spirit with the Divine spirit - God. We need to allow ourselves time to consume as much of His heavenly energy as we can - to be able to walk this Camino. Even in times when we are spiritually hungry - when we thirst for more - God will provide. Gather up all the stores you can for yourself - when you begin to hunger and  thirst - ask Jesus into your life - he will fill the emptiness - in your soul.

Deacon Dale 

Early to Rise...

When anyone walks a Camino they have to plan in advance how long and how far they will walk on a daily basis - departure and arrival times - very important. On the Camino de Santiago it is very important that you do not oversleep - most pilgrim albergues want you out of their facility by 8:00 AM - they also will not let you check in for the night earlier than 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM - so they have time to clean and prepare for the next evening's pilgrims. For the pilgrims - the peregrinos - walking should be started earlier rather than later - as the morning will be cooler and more comfortable than the hot afternoon.  It is also important to the peregrinos - that they stop their daily walk early enough - to guarantee that they locate a bed for the evening and a place to eat their evening meal.

As we walk our Lenten Camino we do not have to worry about being kicked out of our homes and our beds are going to be where they always are. For those of us doing this spiritual walk - the important thing is to start our day early enough so that we may fit our Camino journey into our day's plans. We want to allow just enough time for prayer - scripture - rosaries - chaplets - Holy Mass - meditation - reflection - whatever we have elected to do on this journey. We want to do this Camino well - gaining the most out of this spiritual exercise. Planning the daily schedule - helps assure us our Camino will be fruitful. When Jesus wandered in the desert - He did not wander aimlessly - He had a plan - an agenda - which allowed Him to focus on doing what His Father wanted of Him. As we walk this Camino - know that Jesus - walks it with you.

Deacon Dale 

On A Roll

Taking those first steps of your Camino - starting the journey - placing one foot after the other - starting with one prayer - then another - anticipating the journey - awesome - a MasterCard Priceless* moment. Some things in life just cannot be repeated - the second time is never exactly like to first - it will pale in comparison - or be so much better - never the same. We have begun our Lenten Camino - we are now into the beginning of the first week of Lent and doing good - pacing ourselves -trying not to be too over zealous - avoiding the common error of early burn out. This morning began slowly - midday passed by smoothly - evening quietly approaches. The day has been good - refreshing - rewarding - our Lent Camino - now well on track.

With Jesus leading us - we will all accomplish our goal for Lent. Keeping our eyes focused on Him - paying attention to what He tells us - means success for our efforts. Like our canine friend on the skateboard - we will do well - as long as we keep our balance - with God - with prayer.

Deacon Dale 

Camino Blues

One of the most frustrating things about planning a Camino journey - just like El Camino de Santiago - is the all too often Monday morning blues - that constant reminder that it is Monday - again - and you still have not started the Camino. Just as with the Camino in Spain - those seeking to walk a Lenten Camino - will feel the same frustration because they have yet to begin the journey. It is so typical of humans - we really want to do something - we plan - budget - prepare - then hesitate - balk - freeze up. Why we do that is any body's guess - maybe a natural part of unsettled resolve. When we made the decision to walk the Camino in Spain - it took a few days to settle in - did we really want to do that - were we sure - questioning each other for multiple days - then finally - making the commitment - taking the plunge. Once the exercise in making the commitment was over - peace set in - planning started - progress began. That is exactly what has to be done with our Lenten Camino - we made the commitment - didn't we? - we decided what we were going to do - right? - so now we move onward with our plans. Going to read Holy Scripture - get your Bible - going to pray more - make the time - now - looking for acts of charity - open the eyes - yes! - it is possible - today we start. Progress will come - usually at a slower pace that we had hoped for - but it will come.

When Jesus asked us to follow Him - he meant today - not tomorrow. When He asked us to pray - He meant now on our lunch break. He knows how difficult any journey can be - He was in the desert for 40 days - right? No journey starts off easy - there are always those last minute delays - but once started - it flows with unbelievable simplicity. Jesus tells us - God will not give us more than we can handle - He will be with us all the way - encouraging - helping - smoothing out the rough path - straightening the narrow - helping us constantly. He will let us walk on our own - for a time - we may think we are alone - but always - He will be there.  Now - start - and enjoy your Camino.

Deacon Dale 

Lenten Camino Preparation

As we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent - we look toward a successful Lenten Camino. To accomplish this we must be well prepared - minds - hearts - bodies - in shape for the journey ahead. We need our equipment - prayer books - bibles - rosaries - holy cards - as well as other supplies. We must lay out a plan - an itineriary - where we are heading - how far to journey each day - a timeline for success. We need to plan for our nutrition - rest times - how to manage our thirst and hunger - providing for a complete camino experience. We begin with prayer - we walk with prayer - we celebrate with prayer. Although excited and anxious to rush into our Camino - we pace ourselevs - ensuring that we do not burn out - that we attempt too much - that we become an early failure. Doing what is sensible and reasonable is very important. Laying the ground work will help ensure a successful Camino. When we first began our journey with Jesus - we rushed into it - and failed early on. Now that we are more mature we recignize the error of our early attempt - this time we approach it a bit wiser - a bit smarter - planning this time for
success.

God calls each of us to journey more closley with Him - Jesus is our guide - slow to anger - quick to forgive - always ready to come to our aid. To walk with Jesus - we pray - come Lord Jesus - help me in my Lenten Camino - be with me on this journey - guide me - that I may draw closer to you.  Spoken in earnest - He answers - come journey with me - take my hand - I will never forsake you.

Deacon Dale 

Lenten Camino - First Steps

In Isaiah chapter 58 we are told - "Thus says the Lord - If you remove from your midst -oppression - false accusation - malicious speech - If you bestow your bread on the hungry - satisfy the afflicted" - in other words - if we live as Christ taught us - if we dare to walk a path that others do not follow - if we place the needs and concerns of our bothers and sisters above our own - we will become true disciples of Jesus. In this day and age - there are so many excesses - in the midst of so much need - there are too many seeking to acquire more - while others seek only the bare minimum to exist. Lent is the perfect time for us to stop in our path - to pray and reflect - to consider what we have done - what we are doing - to better ourselves - to better others - to better the world. In a world filled with so many who hunger and thirst - for the basic needs of life - who hunger and thirst for the basic words of hope - who hunger and thirst for a hand up rather than a hand out - we are called - to act.

As we walk our Lenten Camino with Jesus - we will experience the dry and loneliness just as He did in the dessert - if we stop and reflect - we will see the naked and hungry - if we put aside our personal desires - we will see the desires of the sick and thirsty - we will see - with the eyes of God. To walk a Camino - to walk any journey - is difficult when done by oneself - to walk with God is a completely different experience. We walk as people of faith - keeping our eyes open for the signs He gives us - pointing The Way. As Isaiah continues - "thus says the Lord - if you honor by not following your ways - seeking your own interests - then you shall delight in the LORD - and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth - I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob - your father - for the mouth of the LORD has spoken". We walk our Camino journey - first and foremost - to honor God - to empty ourselves - to draw closer to Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

A Lenten Camino

It has been five months since my wife and I walked approximately 400 miles of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. While walking that Camino - we spent hours upon hours in prayer - for our Bishop - our diocese and its ministries - for our parish - our priests - many others' special requests - for ourselves. It was easy to do - no cell phones - no television - no distractions - just lots of quiet time to steep ourselves in prayer. As we begin our annual Lenten observance - I invite you to journey with me on a special Lenten Camino. Over the next 40 days - I will be praying and posting - reflecting on various topics - offering thoughts on multiple aspects of Camino - journey - pilgrimage.  As I begin - I wish to focus on a special Lenten presentation offered by my friend Tajci - Tatiana Cameron - whom I met a few years ago when she presented her Lenten program - I Thirst.  It was a powerful presentation and an excellent way to observe Lent. As you journey with me on this Lenten Camino - my prayer is that you will find yourself thirsting for more and more of all that Jesus offers each of us.

During Lent we are called to empty ourselves - to fast - to open ourselves to whatever God has in store for us. Jesus calls us to thirst - for Him - His Spirit - God's presence in our lives. We need to become empty - dry - hungering and thirsting for God - in our prayers - thoughts - deeds. We need to begin focusing on others - the invisible - the cast aways - the less fortunate - those whom society ignores. We need to actively look - to seek these souls out - to thirst for the blessings due them by God. By practicing random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty. - we hope to satisfy our thirst - for a world that is right and just - for a world where people care for each other - for a world where all are healed and whole.

Deacon Dale 

Lenten Sacrifice

One of the most common concepts of Lent is sacrifice - giving up something - emptying oneself - making more room for prayer - meditation - reflection. I agree wholeheartedly about the concept of sacrifice - not completely with what so many give up - chocolate - candy - television - smoking - Facebook. All of us have more free time than we like to admit - time to nap - time to waste - time for almost anything - except prayer. I personally think the best sacrifice one can make during Lent is that of self - giving up ourselves - thinking about others - doing random acts of kindness - unrequested prayers for the needs of anyone besides yourself - senseless acts of charity - with no recognition - no recompense -- nothing - except the knowledge that you did the right thing - at the right time - in the right way - building  the kingdom of God - one prayer - one random act of kindness at a time. I devote more time to pray - considering the needs of others - especially those who don't attend church - those who do not believe in God - those who walk a different path. My goal this Lent - growth in the time spent helping others - not in organized activities - but those known only to myself - known only to God.

God doesn't need more temples - churches - shrines - programs - edifices built in our image. He needs us to break free from the common - to do the uncommon - the unrecognized - the anonymous - the senseless - touching hearts - through prayer - personal sacrifice - random acts of kindness and charity. He calls us to be true disciples - not promoting or advertising what we do - letting our actions speak for themselves. God calls you and me - to true servant hood - to true discipleship - to live our Lent - not just think about it - but to live it.

Deacon Dale 

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday - Ash Wednesday - celebrated around the world as the beginning of the Lenten season of prayer - fasting - alms giving. As an older member of the Church the rules of the Lenten Fast no longer apply to me - yet I still fast and abstain from meat products. I am healthy enough and have no dietary restrictions that otherwise dispense me from imposing these rules upon myself. So - no meat - two small meals - was enough to suffice. As a deacon - I spent a large portion of the mid-day visiting nursing homes and senior centers distributing ashes to whomever wanted them. It was interesting that perhaps half of the people who requested ashes were not Catholic - one woman was a self professed Jew - who explained that any prayers and blessings from God - were just fine in her book. The day ended by assisting at Holy Mass in the evening - again distributing ashes to a large group - many who do not attend Sunday Mass regularly - but always show up for their ashes.  One young man even approached me after Holy Mass to explain that he arrived late and "did not get his ashes" - easily remedied - he left church very happy - smudged forehead - blessed by God.

God is pleased with any and all actions that bring us closer to Him - to Jesus - to His Holy Spirit. In these 40 days of Lent - each of us is called - by name - from God's lips - to enter into this season with expectant hearts - with open eyes - seeking Him - above all else.

Deacon Dale 

Fat Tuesday

Fat Tuesday - also known as Mardi Gras - gets it's name from the French for fat = gras and Tuesday = Mardi - is an annual festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. The annual festivities begin on January 6th - the Twelfth Night Feast of the Epiphany - when the three kings visited the Christ child - building to a climax on Fat Tuesday - which always occurs the day before Ash Wednesday. Partying continues until midnight on Tuesday - the beginning of Lent. In New Orleans - Mardi Gras - has been an annual event for two centuries. In the rest of America and around the world similar celebrations are observed - celebrating excesses of food - drink - revelry - letting the senses run wild for one last day before the period of abstinence and fasting of Lent begins.

God understands us - our need to act and do excessive things - prior to an extended period of self denial - prayer - fasting - alms giving. He may not condone - but allows us this indulgence - knowing that it will strengthen and steel our resolve to experience a good - fruitful - prayerful - Lent. Each of us is a promise - a promise to God - to ourselves - to be the best that we can be. We are a promise to each other - to our families - our friends - strangers on the street. As we prepare to begin our Lenten devotions - let each one of us - hold the promise of self denial - promise of commitment - in our hearts.

Deacon Dale