So It Begins… (my Camino and uncertainty)

When I walked my first Camino last year I didn’t really count it as starting until my first day of walking - about two days in to the journey. This time I wonder if my Camino began when I booked my ticket in March. Even so, I’m counting today, Monday 16 Sept. as the beginning with the drive to the train station, the train to the airport, and the flight to Madrid. In this space I am hoping to clear my mind of distractions and be open to the uncertain or unexpected moments inviting me trust that “all things work together for good for those who love God”, which is one prevalent lesson of pilgrimage and walking Camino. Last year I didn’t have concerns about my body or health for the 300 miles. Instead I wondered if I packed the right things, what I forgot, or what was unnecessary that I would leave along the way. This year, I feel I have a good handle on my pack and the physical items I will be bringing with me. After last year’s experience, I am uncertain about my health - will my shin splints come back (and if so, how bad will they be); will I get bed bugs the second night and deal with that for 10 days; will I be able to sleep… Last year I thought how to answer the “Why are you here?” question a few different ways. I still don’t know if I have a solid answer to that for last year. This year I feel uncertain, at times, of my answer to this year’s “Why are you going again?” Last year I told people I wanted to take some time and space to process my mom’s passing away, which did happen in part. Yet walking also stirred up many other areas of thought around family and hopes and reconciliation. This year I’ve told people that I hope to realign my focus, efforts, and energy amidst circumstances in life and work going differently than I had thought, planned, and, possibly, hoped over this past year. Last year I would end blog posts with “Boun Camino,” which is a greeting many pilgrims (peregrinos) offer to one another. This year I want to try a more historic one that I learned last year while walking. When passing, one pilgrim would say “E Ultreia” and the other would respond “E Suseia,” and then both “Deus adjuva nos!” Some say this roughly translates to “Onward and Upward [to Santiago] with God’s help,” yet others say bit more literal is “Let’s go further, Let’s go higher, God will help us!” Ultreia (y Suseia), Dan