Preparations

I prepare for this pilgrimage in all sorts of ways.  Two years ago, I began walking.  I used to walk 2.5 miles from home to the nearest bus stop, and take the bus into work.  My companion, Peter, and I have taken very long walks through the quiet back roads south of Manchester, Michigan.  The walk I enjoy the most is the 4 mile walk to church on Sunday mornings.  I've done that a dozen or so times over the last couple of years.  This past Sunday, I did not see a soul until I was less than 1/2 mile from church.  The birds flitted about.  The occasional dog gave me a greeting.  I heard the crazy improv rhythms of a wood pecker and crows puffing chests at each other over territory high in the trees.  To have the privilege of a bit over an hour before church filled with the quiet crunch of shoe on gravel and mind wandering from prayer to hymn fragment to wife to kids to prayer to . .  .well now, that is preparation indeed.

The Northern Route itinerary

Our itnerary si Deus Vult Day from and to Miles 1 Irun to San Sebastian 14.2 2 San Sebastian to Zarautz 13.6 3 Zarautz to Deba 20.0 4 Deba to Zenaruzza 18.5 5 Zenaruzza to Guernika 10.5 6 Guernika to Lezama 14.7 7 REST 8 Lezama to Bilbao 3.6 9 Bilbao to Portugalete 13.4 10 Portugalete to Castro-Urdiales 24.7 11 Castro-Urdiales to Laredo 20.0 12 Laredo to Guemes 16.3 13 Guemes to Santander 8.1 14 REST 15 Santander to Santillana del mar 24.6 16 Santillana del mar to Comillas 13.5 17 Comillas to San Vicente del Barquera 7.8 18 San Vicente de la Barquera to Llanes 25.4 19 Llanes to Ribadesella 17.0 20 Ribadesella to Sebrayo 22.7 21 REST 22 Sebrayo to Valdedios 10.0 23 Valdedios to Gijon 14.3 24 Gijon to Aviles 15.2 25 Aviles to Cudillero 21.6 26 Cudiller to Cadavedo 18.9 27 Cadavedo to Luarca 10.0 28 REST 29 Luarca to La Caridad 16.8 30 La Caridad to Ribadeo 13.2 31 Ribadeo to Lourenza 16.4 32 Lourenza to Gontan/Abadin 16.9 33 Gontan/Abadin to Vilalba 11.3 34 Vilalba to Baamonde 11.8 35 REST 36 Baamonde to Sobrado dos Monxes 24.9 37 Sobrado dos Monxes to Arzua 14.6 38 Arzua to Arca do Pino 13.2 39 Arca do Pino to Santiago de Compostela 13.2 40 REST and REUNITED WITH KETL 530.9

Mystery and Longing . . .

     On Monday, May 21^st, Peter Harris and I will wake up early, re-pack our packs from the nights stay in Irum, say a brief prayer and cast off into the devotion to mystery and longing that is my Camino.  I had dreamed of this morning for three years.  With great and good intention, I cast myself into a rather daunting unknown: a 500 mile walk across northern Spain.  For the next 40 days I’ll wake every morning and set out looking to match steps, to fall into line with, the One who says “I am the Way”.  The gospel writer John recounts that after encountering  Jesus, Philip looked for his friend Nathanael and said, “Come and see.”  The stories of the Camino I have read so endlessly for the last three years have too beckoned me to “Come and see.”  In my fears about the physical strain, the language barriers, living so closely with a companion for 40 days, I take comfort from the story.  When Nathanael finally meets Jesus, Jesus says, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  I go to meet One who already knows me, who has been shaping me through family, wife, friends, church, and synagogue for many long years, who has been preparing me for this very time.  I just hope I recognize the moment when it comes . . .