Well, 13.6 miles felt quite good today! Last night we stayed in a Pension which was lovely – splurged a little on the room in exchange for a picnic dinner and comfortable sleeping.
Today we felt the heat a bit, and experienced long, straight stretches of Camino with no shade. We were so thankful to find a few trees where we could rest for a few minutes.
We are finding a very definite “theme” that has developed over the last few days. We have met some pilgrims who have experienced tragic losses: the loss of a father, a mother, a 14-year old daughter. These individuals have opened up to us about their pain and their grieving. Of course, my sister’s loss of her husband is very present in my heart as they share with us. This is all quite unexpected how these 3 pilgrims have come to us. Usually people are surprisingly private on the Camino – only sharing first names, rarely occupations. Reasons for doing the Camino are so varied that rarely do people share such intimate details! What we do know is that the weight that they are carrying has nothing to do with what’s on their backs. Their load is very, very heavy, and we can’t carry the weight for them. They must carry it themselves. All we can do is listen and love them through it for the short time we are together.
God is placing us in these situations. We have no doubt of this. Why? We do not yet know.
One again today we found ourselves gently guided step-by-step to our lodgings. It is impossible to describe how we are being led. People are planted in our path who intentionally tend to our every need.
The afternoon visit to the Cathedral was spectacular. Great miracles have happened through Santo Domingo de la Calzada. We beg his intercession.
We had a glorious simple dinner – pizza and salad, and now off to Mass. God is so, so good to us!
