17 May 2013

Molinesca

Foot of the cross

Buen Camino

If a pilgrimage was to include hardships, this day would have had a marquee billing. The day was overwhelmingly difficult. I had a nice room with a German couple. During the nite they woke me to stop my snoring. I had rolled over on my back and punished them for a while. They were ready to commit homicide, motioning a wringing of my neck for the snoring disturbance. I apologized profusely.

The day was met with snow. We walked for about 7km and found ourself in a picturesque snow globe. It appeared such a beautiful gift from God. The vegetation of shrubs and flowering plants were covered so gorgeously by the snow. It was a stunning beauty. But it was a challenging climb. It required an ascent to equal 1000 meters to reach the 1909 height we were targeting. That's 1000 meter sticks stacked end on end. It was so difficult in all the snow on the trail. So slippery and difficult to get one's footing.

We continued on until we reached the the holiest shrine on the camino, Cruz de Ferro. If I read it correctly, the cross was erected in 980 and pilgrims over the centuries had placed what is called a "sorrow stone" at the base. These golf ball sized stones have accumulated to create a mound one must climb of at least 10ft in order to reach the base of the cross. My photos won't give it justice because the snow covered the entire landscape.

I left Eric and Joyce to have some prayer time for all family and friends. I went name by name, prayer need by prayer need, and placed your plea to God at the foot of the cross. It was a very moving experience because of how deeply reverent and holy the spot is. Attached to the outside of the pole that holds the iron cross on the top, are sacramentals and photos to represent people's deep sorrows. I attached the a rosary given by the Gooch family to offer to God for family healing of their sorrows.

There are so many stories of heart-broken pilgrims.

One quick story recently told of a pilgrim's sorrow. It was of a 45 yr old lady from Holland. She ached from the fact that she was barren, and her husband and she cried for a child to love. Her stone of sorrow was for the child she never bore. Many other stories of sorrow are told in the sorrow stones at the foot of the cross. Your sorrow was placed there today.

From there we headed on the descent. Here is where painful hardship intensely began. The weather turned so ugly nasty. We walked into a full snow storm. The snow with sleet hit our face and made the trail nightmarishly dangerous. Every step was on snow covered mud and slippery rock. Each step was a step onto what could be a fall. Again, with a pack of 20 lbs, a fall or even a stutter step, would thrust one to the ground rapidly. The trekking poles were life savers- literally.

Km after km we descended the 1100 m over all the mud and rock. The snow wouldn't relent. Visibility was at best 100 yds, length of a football field. It was more manageable when we had to walk on the highway; there was good footing. Then the trail returned to the mud and rock that descended deeper and deeper into the valley.

Because it was so precarious, one had to stick a pole into whatever mud was nearby and step carefully on the snowy rock beneath. One step, one step, one scary step at a time and many through pools of cold snow melt. My quads screamed and were on fire from the painfully slow descent. It also took such concentration for hours on end to avoid a fall.

By God's good grace we made it into town to the albergue. Sadly, there were only two beds remaining and we were at the last of the places to stay in this town. The good bishop and wife got the beds, and I moved down the road to the last available place. It resembles a dorm room from a college frat house. So painful to accept for a 62yr old after such a day.

I thought about what God might be wanting me to learn here today. I felt so much suffering from today's strain of the trail and the physical demands. My feet and legs are in such pain and there is no comfort in the place where I sleep tonite.

I choose to lay it all down at the foot of the cross.

Leave your sorrows at the foot of the cross, like a sorrow stone. Leave it behind, and move forward with me in the faith and hope of God's graces ahead.

Upcoming:
Ponferida

Carinosamente,

Deacon Willie