Finding the Center
Finding the Center
by Ross Novack | Fort Walton Beach, FL
Borrowing a theme from Henry David Thoreau in his essay “Walden,” I went on the Camino “because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life…I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life and to live Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life.” The Camino can be “spartan-like” and challenging but also rich and refreshing. I set out desiring to live the peregrino spirit. Some of what it means to be a pilgrim is thrust upon us, yet other aspects are found along the Way.
At the Pilgrim’s Office in St. Jean Pied de Port, I weighed my pack and realized it was much too heavy. With holiday closures in Pamplona, I would have to wait five days until I reached the Correos in Puenta la Reina to send home my pillow, beard-trimmer, extra flashlight, cold-weather clothes, and other non-essentials. After shedding these, it was easier to pack, and I was lighter on my feet.
The day before starting, I decided to banish extra noise, opting to leave my AirPods in my pack, to fast from music and podcasts, and to enjoy the silence. In the quiet, I found I could more easily appreciate the details and beauty of God’s creation, think about things and people most important to me, and freely engage with those I met. And I do believe I “met the world.” In the stretches I walked alone, the silence enlivened my contemplation and made space for me to listen for God’s voice. I also made a conscious choice to use my phone only to keep in touch with friends and family, avoiding games, social media, and news. I didn’t miss it. Instead, I was more at peace and full of joy. In turn, I could be more present to the many friends I made and enjoy our conversations. Together we walked through landscapes that seemed like impressionist paintings and shared wonderful meals.
The practical choices you make while walking the Camino have such an impact on its fruitfulness and shape the lessons you take into life after returning home. In the intensity of the Camino, we end up living deeply and simply, experiencing extraordinary beauty and grace, reflecting on the essentials, and giving God room to move in us. Now, my work is to integrate those things learned as a peregrino into my daily life.
