Camino Routes

When making the decision to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela - all peregrinos have to determine which route they will walk. There is more than one route to Santiago de Compostela - the Camino Frances being the most popular of the twelve routes available. Except for the Camino Finisterre and Camino Portugues - all others merge with the Camino Frances. Each route offers its own challenges - length - terrain - weather - mountains and hills - flat lands - time required to complete. Depending on the route selected and the abilities of the peregrino - pilgrim - the experience may be blissfully easy or amazingly difficult - always rewarding.

On our Lenten Camino - we have similar decisions to make - how much time we can - should -invest into this exercise - what type of spiritual Camino we will attempt - where it will take us. We need to recognize that just as in walking the Camino in Spain - walking our Lenten Camino may mean that we have to adjust - change - modify our plans - to achieve - positive results. No one knows until they are on their Camino - how situations may change - become easier - more difficult. The beautiful thing - on both Caminos - is that there is no wrong way or right way to walk a Camino. Your Camino experience is just that - yours - nobody else's. When God called you to journey closer to Him - He called You - only You - to walk that route. Everyone has their own route to follow - yours is yours alone. The important thing - take positive steps - one after another - at your pace - asking Jesus - to help you - each step of the Way.

Deacon Dale 

Camino Sounds

While walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain we spent a lot of time walking by ourselves - no one to listen to - except each other. Much of that time we walked apart - giving each other space for private prayer time - time to be with our thoughts - time to empty ourselves to the Camino. In that private time there was only the sounds of the Camino - birds - wind - running water - an occasional dog - silence. Those sounds - the silence - provided the comfort - the solace necessary to fully appreciate the gifts of the Camino

On our Lenten Camino we need to do likewise - empty ourselves - turn off our electrical devices - tune out the sounds of the world - open ourselves to only His voice - His breath - His presence.  In that silence - we free our spirit to join with His - in that quiet - we become His - alone - to move and breath in His presence. The only sound we hear - our hearts - beating - as we join with His heart - as we grow in His gift of life.

Deacon Dale 

Camino Time

When we were walking the El Camino de Santiago one thing that became very obvious almost immediately was the time factor. We had done our calculations - how fast we could and would walk - how many days to allow for completion of the Camino - what time to wake up - what time to sleep - when to eat - when to take breaks - everything was timed. It took only a few days to toss out all our calculations - the time factor - not a real concern. Instead of watching the time - instead of all the logical calculations - we listened - to our bodies - to our feet - to the Camino itself. What we realized - on the Camino - we were in the process of losing ourselves into time. Time no longer mattered - the important thing was our bodies - our nutrition - the experience. We stopped to take in our surroundings - the sights - the sounds - the stillness. We were absorbed into the Camino - we became the Camino - the Camino became us.

As we focus on our Lenten Camino - we ignore the time factor - how many days or weeks in Lent does not matter. How quickly we connect more deeply with God - with Jesus - is not important. Jesus does not wear a watch - nor does God - they are eternal - outside of time - in a place where time does not exist. One day is as a thousand and a thousand are as one. The important factor is connecting - connecting well - connecting for life. On this Lenten Camino we seek to go deeper than ever before - we seek a more meaningful relationship - one that will last a lifetime. We seek life - eternal life - for ourselves.

Deacon Dale

The Wearing of the Green

Today on the Camino - everyone is Irish - just as it is in America and many other places - celebrating the "Wearing of the Green" - worn in support of Irish people everywhere. One of the most interesting things we discovered walking the Camino de Santiago  was the diversity of the people of the Camino. People from the four corners of the world walk the Camino - Irish - German - Italian - Korean - Polish - English - Spanish - American - Canadian - French - Australian - just to name a few. These Camino people walk as a community - each on their own - each in harmony with the space and people who live - work - walk - there. It is peaceful and on the Camino - race - creed - color - language - unites - rather than divides. It is not the country - language - customs that bring them together as one body - it is the spirit of the Camino that accomplishes that.

On our Lenten Camino - we need to look into ourselves and see who it is that we avoid - ignore - do not invite into our lives. We need to ask why - what have they done - not done - what disturbs us about them? We need to seek harmony - first in ourselves - in our families - in our communities - in our lives. We need to look for ways to assimilate - to draw in - not push away - to accept - not reject - to become - not avoid. As we continue our Lenten Camino we must become more God like - more like Jesus - more welcoming. We need to evolve - to become - all that God calls us to be.

Deacon Dale 

Camino Sun Shine

When we walked the Camino de Santiago last fall we had beautiful weather - everyday we had sunshine - rain only once on the last day of our walk. It was excellent - every day - bright - sunny - clear - hot - beating down on your head hot - in the mountains hot - in the plains hot - beating down on your head - day after day - hour after hour. One of the most important pieces of equipment on the Camino - a big hat - an SPF 50 hat - to block out the rays of the sun - not an option - a necessity. Walking for 30 days in a row - 6 hours or more a day in the hot sun - we needed our hats.  We appreciated the sunshine - the heat and intensity of the sun - not so much.

As we walk our Lenten Camino we do not have to worry about coping with an intense sun beating down on our heads - this Camino is different. It is walked not through the mountains and valleys of Spain - rather through the fertile fields of our hearts. We walk through those closets in our hearts where we have stored many things - joys - grief - happy memories - sad thoughts - blessed events - trying hours. In our hearts - we hold many things - good and bad - as we walk this Lenten Camino we will sort through all these - in the end - all put in proper perspective. On this Camino we - we are blessed with Jesus - His love - His compassion - His blessing - as He shines His love upon our efforts. On this Camino we celebrate God's presence - His Sonshine.

Deacon Dale  

Rest Days

Many people find that when they embark on a long journey - like the Camino de Santiago - walking 30 or more days in a row - that the challenge is overwhelming - to say the least. Unfortunately - too many push on - ignoring signs of exhaustion - pain - fearful they will be accused of - not being a real pilgrim - not being tough enough to handle the stress - failure. Many end up quitting their journey - having gone father than their body could tolerate - ending very early what should have been a rewarding journey. Their biggest failure - not taking rest days. Rest days are more than acceptable - they help give the body time to heal and restore itself - gives the mind time to cope with mental stress - assures a successful Camino experience.

God does not expect us to get it perfect the first time - or the second time - or the third time. Spiritual growth comes in short strides - baby steps - slowly - but surely. Our Lenten Camino is a spiritual exercise and like any exercise - must be started slowly and steadily - if success is to be achieved. Take a rest day when needed - do not stop your Camino - pause it when necessary - then once refreshed - continue. Only by being faithful to your Lenten Camino - will you achieve the end you seek.

Deacon Dale 

Camino Tools

When we began investigating the possibility of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain - we read books - blogs - online groups - everything we could get our hands on. It became apparent early on that certain equipment was necessary to walk the Camino - boots - backpacks - trekking poles - hydration equipment - technical clothing. Peregrinos are reminded - over and over - select lightweight - quality equipment - then field test - over and over - making sure you have selected the correct equipment. We did just that - we purchased and returned - boots - backpacks - poles - clothing - sleep sacks - almost everything. In regards to boots - I had to buy and try six different shoes/boots before I settled on the ones I would wear - and even then they were wrong. It took one year to plan and prepare to walk our Camino.

Walking a Lenten Camino is easier - no special shoes - no trekking poles - no special clothing - no backpacks. The only tools needed are your basic Bible and rosary. Two tools - most Catholics have those laying around - easy to use - easy to transport. Even then - if you do all your prayer and reading at home - no transportation issues. Two simple tools - no need to field test - no buying and returning - no size or weight issues. The biggest issue with these two tools - using them. In our busy lives we are too involved - too occupied - too busy. Your Lenten tools are there - you can spare the time - start today - open your Bible - anywhere - and see what God speaks to you in the words you read - then pickup your rosary - say some prayers - walk your Camino - day after day - after day.

Deacon Dale

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