Five months from today I will be meeting new people, exploring new places, and experiencing new things! I will be taking a train from Madrid to our starting point to walk the Camino de Santiago for two weeks! Although walking the whole way takes at least a month, I am happy to be walking at least part of it, as a month away just isn’t possible at this stage of my life.
Many people ask me how I decided to walk the Camino. I’d like to say that it was a beautiful story of spiritual inspiration and discernment that led me to feel called to the Camino. But, that’s not the case. It sounded like a fun adventure that I first started hearing about and reading about from historical fiction and other books about people who walked. The Camino was used to get people into Spain from occupied France during WWII and I kept coming across stories about it. When someone I knew was posting about his experiences and that he was leading trips, I thought “this is my next adventure!” (Check out Camino Guide- https://youtu.be/mzmhwxdiPEo?si=U2d3K0wvDV1bSmeP on YouTube!)
I've realized my adventure doesn’t start when I leave, but rather it started when I made the decision and started to prepare for the trip Since I made the decision and signed up, I’ve started to realize what I signed up for and for the next five months, I hope to share some of my thoughts as I prepare. Then, while I’m there, I’ll let you take the trip with me through my words!
One of the biggest things I feel already is a sense of simplicity. Everything I need has to be carried with me in a backpack that hopefully weighs less than 14 pounds. Starting in January, I have felt a sense of “what do I really need?”. I switched from carrying a heavy backpack everyday to carrying a small purse. Even now it’s crammed with things I need to take out.
We have so much stuff in our lives that isn’t necessary- so many clothes, trinkets, toiletries! I will be taking two outfits and a few extra pieces of clothing to be ready for different weather. I’m testing out Camp Suds- a cleaner that is body wash, shampoo, laundry detergent, and dish soap. Yep! One liquid for all of these things! So far, it’s not as bad as it sounds!
What ways can I keep focusing on simplicity in the coming months? How can I make do with what I have? I think another aspect is that once I leave, I need to trust that I have what I need. If there is something I need I can get it, but I have to be grateful for what I do have and not dwell on what I don’t have.
My focus words for the year are “grateful” and “noach” (which means rest and settle in) and I didn’t realize how much my adventure and preparation for my adventure are living into this until I started writing this!
So, as I’m getting ready, I’m gathering what I need and preparing physically, but I’m also preparing myself mentally and spiritually. I am trying to keep an open mind so that I can take in all that I can, and all that this experience and God have to show me!
So, where did I see God today? As I look back, I don’t have a big fancy story to tell about deciding to walk. But, God was in the still, small voices that got me to that decision!
Blessings
Jennifer
