at the end

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I cried at the end – tried to hide it.  It was embarrassing.  Tried walking so no one could see it, but some passerby saw it – I heard them say something. Chet and I have wanted to travel to Spain for 15+ years – new jobs, children, trying to have children, raise them, work, etc. etc. has prevented this trip at the 5, 10, 15 year wedding anniversaries.  Several of my pastor colleagues had talked about the camino.  The stars aligned with the sabbatical to do this trip.  It was difficult, grueling, and amazing all at the same time.  It was an amazing accomplishment to complete the 124 km as a family.  It was religious experience of endurance, patience, hospitality, intentional walking, prayer, and beauty.  To walk in the footsteps of faithful before us.  To walk along with folks from around the world.  To see the myriad ways Jesus is venerated and worshiped in church and hospitality was awe inspiring.  It was a incredible gift of time we had as a family.  It was an amazing way to experience one part of this country – we saw big cities, farmlands, forests, small towns, modern suburbs, architecture older than anything in the US.  We experienced delicious food from simple to fancy. 

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