“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” ― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
I don’t have any visible proof that what Anne Frank said is true but I know when I step outside of “my world” and I step away from my everyday life I tend to see things differently. There is some room created when I have the opportunity to strip off all the entanglements of life and free myself for a while, I am able to hear, see, and experience new things because I am free. They don’t need to be profound things yet; they can be at times but more often than not it is a small experience or thought that we have that changes our lives.
I keep reading what people say about going on the Camino and hearing what people say who have walked the Camino. They say that along the way and at some point, you will experience a moment of personal awareness or have some insight about life or some issue you have and you will have an answer. It makes sense when you realize we all bring our personal baggage and stuff with us whatever it may be. I also know from reading some history of the Camino that even those who we esteem highly have experienced such moments on the Camino. The question that comes to my mind a lot is, “why are you going and why are you doing it in September?”
I don’t know if I have one main reason why I am going to do it. The most obvious reason is I am part of a family and we decided to walk part of the Camino as a family. It’s a good reason but, I have a sense that the real and important reason for going will reveal itself only as I experience the Camino itself. That means I will need to let each day and moment reveal itself to me. For those who know me well, you know I am a planner and uncertainty drives me crazy. Yet, my experience with Covid and just living life the past two years have helped teach me that life is anything but stable and plans will more often than not go awry. Helping me see that life is better lived loosely and with an acceptance that each day is what it is.
The Camino will be a test of that for sure but, the Camino will also have some surprises for me too.
Thoughts? E-mail: francisearly@francisearly.com
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