On the Journey Back Home
On the Journey Back Home
by Steve Pietila | Portland, OR
It’s over. It will take time to process the past several weeks. I’ll try and write down things I want to bring back from the Camino as they come to mind. One is the recognition in every human being of the image of God. Though I’m not sure this always happened on the walk, I believe God is increasing my capacity to do this.
Henri Nouwen says that this is part of the fruit of spending time alone with God in solitude. Well, I’ve certainly had a lot of that over the last five weeks. Though perhaps not conscious of it always, from time to time I was reminded that God was with me the entire way. I would often just pray that He would do the work He wanted within me as I walked in silence. Sometimes praying, or singing in the Spirit, sometimes songs from the community days. Almost always filled with gratitude for the gift of having this time away with God, with Julie (my wife), and of course the other pilgrims we met along the way. So many prayers answered. So many Divine appointments. Opportunities to bless others and being so blessed ourselves.
I will cherish the hugs. Hugging is a universal language. It is an expression of the love and joy of connection with another, a mutual recognition of our shared humanity and a celebration of that reality. Those things that separate us come from lies and false powers and principalities. They are exposed in the Light from above and dissolve the barriers between us. We can experience the fellowship and community with God and one another for which we were created.
Walking, walking, walking, often checking what might be ahead in terms of the hills or the remaining mileage. Distracted by this and focusing on the destination rather than the journey brings another metaphor and life lesson. Goals can certainly be helpful in giving purpose and direction, but obsession with them can cause one to miss so much along the way. We can miss opportunities with nature and with others that could be invitations to see and experience God. This obsession has led me to impatience and frustration, and I ask God to free me from this.
