To understand today we have to consider yesterday afternoon. We were blessed to have our friend Art Lowe visit with the group and share his love for the Savior. He is one of the many friends that we have who share our love of God. This morning we all gathered at this little studio located on the Camino. He painted for each of us in our Camino credential a personalized "sello" (below) and then we sang hymns with him. It was such a wonderfully spiritual coming together of faith and love.
My friend Art Lowe
Jannette's
Lin's
After spending about an hour with him we started our on our trek. Again, it had a lot of ups and downs, over hill and through dell.
I learned from Art that there is an orchid that grows in these valleys. Sadly, they are all flowered out by now.
Today I spent a lot of time thinking; more than usual. I watched as people on the Camino hurriedly tromped along without seemingly paying attention to what was around them. So many people seem set on getting to the next city rather than enjoying the things along the way or pausing to visit with other pilgrims. We had two really special experiences today. First, we spent a long time walking and visiting with three friends from Oklahoma who were traveling together. All three had experienced the loss of a loved one; two had lost a spouse and the other a 24 year old son. We first ran into them in Triacastela and then when we paused at Art Lowe's studio. Art had requested that we sing "How Great Thou Art" with him. These three friends were there with us. After we sang the lady in the group came up to us and told us how their little group had climbed a hill above O Cebreiro and sang that hymn; the favorite of the one whose son had died. She told us that she felt that their efforts were meager and prayed that an they might hear it sung by those whose voices would bring the spirit in. They we were; Art had suggested the hymn the night before; we were there to sing it; and the three friends were standing with us in the tight little studio. We all felt the Spirit so deeply. In the end it was an answer to the pilgrim's prayer and the fulfillment of a request made by our friend Art. Truly God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.
The second experience happened in a very odd way. So, we are only about 30 minutes outside of Sarria when Lizzy declares that she must use the restroom. There happened to be a "camping" stop and restaurant in front of us so we go in. Who should we find but the lady from Alabama and her son. You will recall that I talked about this woman who had lost an older son. She and the younger son were on the pilgrimage as a sort of healing of their hearts and souls. We had a chance to catch up on what had been happening with them and shared a wonderful moment.
Again, God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.
One of the things that I am learning is that too often we focus so hard on the goal ahead of us that we fail to see all the little beauties and tender mercies that fill the spaces around us as we move along life's path. Hopefully I can be a little more aware of and enjoy the journey as much as reaping the benefits of the final result.
We walked around a bit in Sarria.
The best moment was seeing this older gentleman at about 9:30 at night out in his garden weeding. This is the life!
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