Back From My Brief Pilgrimmage in Spain

Hello All,

Obviously I have been away for a few weeks. I am just back from Spain where I met my daughter and walked a section of the famous pilgrimmage route El Camino de Santiago. This is an ancient pilgrimmage route that ends in Santiago de Compostello, the final resting place of St. James the Apostle.

I met Julie in Pamplona, four days into the walk and traveled with her for the next nine days to Burgos. She has continued on after I left and hope to be in Santiago on the 18th or 19th of June. We walked through fields of grain and wild flowers and also through many vineyards from which the well known Rioja and Navarra wines are produced. I visited two beautiful cathedrals that were built over hundreds of years during the Middle Ages, I participated in several prayer services and went to mass as well. It was not so much a spiritual trip for me, at least initially, as I primarily went to accompany Julie along part of the trip. I met other pilgrims from all over the world, from South Korea, Australia, Italy, France, South Africa, from all over Spain and all over the US. We were welcomed all along the way with true hospitality and kindness by those who live and work along the pilgrimage route, and shared food and encouragement with fellow pilgrims. It was a wonderful, challenging and nourishing experience. I am still processing what it has meant to me spiritually. It has definitely had an effect on my faith. More about that later. Meanwhile I am glad to be back sharing my thought on Luke's Gospel with you. The words of Christ are more important than ever to me. Thanks for joining in.

Paula