Singing on the Camino

Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela gives everyone plenty of time to think- meditate - pray - sing - photograph - draw - actually anything. When you have nothing to do but walk up to 500 miles - you find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands. Your mind needs to be kept alert - active - engaged. Walking with a partner - some of that time is spent in conversation.  In our case I filled some of the time with Arlene - singing. Hard to believe - since I am not a singer - on the Camino - I assaulted her ears - with improvised tunes - words - that spoke - feelings - for her ears only. It was fun - private - energizing.

On our Lenten Camino - in our free time - we experience silence - words - music - song. Most of the time during Lent - the music focuses on Jesus - God - penance. The tunes and words draws our minds and hearts closer to His presence - His reality - His acceptance - His forgiveness. As you continue your Lenten Camino - keep your ears open - for the songs that Jesus sings to you - it might be interesting - what you will hear.

Deacon Dale 

Water - Water - Everywhere

One thing we learned very early in our research for walking the Camino de Santiago de Composterla - the importance of water - the lack of - the dangers of - the issues to cope with. As with any long day hike or trek - those walking must maintain good hydration. Walkers have to start their trek well hydrated - maintain their hydration - make allowances for the elimination of the same. When walking for six - seven - eight - hours - trekkers must be sure to carry water with them - in water bottles - hydration bladders - readily accessible when needed. We noticed on our walk that it was about fifty-fifty for those who carried water bottles - used hydration systems. We chose the hydration system - a 1.8 liter BIG ZIP Platypus bladder inside our backpacks - coupled to a hose and bite valve - ensuring ready access to free flowing water. We drank enough water daily that we never had to cope with thirst and because we perspired so much - almost never had to find a place to eliminate excess water.

Water is so life giving - it keeps us hydrated - it is cooling in hot weather - it cleanses - refreshes - it literally is a large part of who and what we are.  In today's Gospel - Jesus meets the woman at the well and He promises her - living water - water that will nourish so much - she will never thirst. The Gospel today looks forward to the Easter Vigil when the Elect - the catechumens - are baptized - given new life in Christ. The Liturgy - today and the next two weeks - focuses on baptism - reception into the Church - full communion - with those already initiated into God's family. For those of us - already baptized - already full members of Christ's church - we watch and observe these Elect - we celebrate the Gift - which we have already received - joyously waiting for their initiation - for their Lenten Camino to be completed - to reach that point in their lives when they will completely understand - you and I - as we constantly seek a deeper relationship to God - to Jesus - when we say - I Thirst.

Deacon Dale 

Weekend Walkers

As the temperature rises and the weather gets better - many people will take to the outdoors for all sorts of activities - among them walking and hiking - especially on the weekends.  On the Camino in Spain there is no difference between weekdays and weekends - every day is the same. The daily routine is identical - day after day - waking early - walking during the day - laundry late afternoon - early to bed. Even those who normally attend church services on Sunday morning - continue  their daily walk. Along the Camino - morning church is rare - evening services more  the norm - even on Sundays. It works for those walking - for  those who live along the Camino.

In America - in most other places - weekends are reserved for errands on Saturday mornings - church on Sunday mornings. Few places offer church services in the evenings - so Sunday morning services - for the majority of those - does not allow time for Sunday morning activities. On our Lenten Camino - we walk daily - even on Sundays - every day - the same as the next. Every day a gift from God - every day - a chance to grow closer to God - every Lent - a chance to grow in holiness. Spend your weekend with Jesus - He will walk with you on your journey.

Deacon Dale 

Walking the Stations

Many pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela follow the popular French route - aka - the Camino Frances. One author - John Brierley - has a Camino guide - broken up into stages - each stage representing a year of Christ's life. Each stage - station - describes in detail where to walk - how to find waymarks - historical notes on each specific stage. This guide is used by a very large number of pilgrims - seeking a comfortable way to make the journey from beginning to end. It has maps - drawings - pictures - showing the way to Santiago.

As we progress  through the many days of Lent - our Lenten Camino will lead us to Fridays - that day of the week when Catholic churches around the globe hold Friday night - Stations of the Cross. A time of prayer - reflection - as Lenten pilgrims walk the individual Stations that Jesus walked - on His way to Calvary. Most parishes offer a prayer book - a guide - complete with pictures - drawings - that help participants follow the correct path - follow the spoken prayers - to lead them to their destination - to the Cross at Calvary - to experience - in their own way - the journey Jesus walked to His crucifixion - His death - His resurection. May your Lenten Camino bring you face to face with the Cross of Christ.

Deacon Dale 

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