Reminder of Faithfulness

I had a ‘memory’ photo pop up on my phone today, although I didn’t need the phone to remind me where I sat (and walked) two years ago. I have been watching the calendar this past week as I remember my first Camino two years ago and my second Camino last year.

Two years ago today another peregrino and I set out to walk a short day (only about 9 miles) because we felt weary from the prior two days, that and she had some mega blisters on her foot. Instead of trying to recount it here, I will paste below the entry I wrote from that day two years ago.

"I had heard of unexpected hospitality from strangers towards peregrinos, and I had the chance to experience it the other day. Tired and hungry, a peregrino from Quebec and I entered a small town together looking for an even smaller albergue listed in a Camino guide.

I asked a lady I saw in town where we could find the albergure. Her daughter said it had closed eight years ago. We asked if there was a place to have a coffee and something small to eat. Nothing, again. The lady said, “Maybe try the next town a mile down the road.” As we began walking away, the younger woman called to us: “Do you need some water?” “Sure, here’s our water bottles.”

We sat down on a bench in the shade in the square near her house to wait for the water. She came out a few minutes later with filled water bottles AND two ice-cold beers.

AND THEN, her husband came out and asked if we liked charizo. We said, “oh, thank you, but it’s not necessary.” He replied, “No problem, just wait.”A few minutes later he brought out two plates with bread, charizo, tomatoes with salt in olive oil. AND THEN, he had came out with his kids with pears from their tree with a knife to cut them.

WHAT A FEAST for two tired peregrinos! We didn’t realize how hungry we had become until we ate this gift of a meal. And we didn’t realize how much we would need this meal, because we ended up walking another 16KM (after having already walked 15KM) to a town with an albergue. As we walked away from the town I prayed for the family, giving thanks for them.

Today as I re-read that story and relived the joy of the unexpected provision, I am reminded that God will provide for all our needs. Sure we thought we would be living somewhere else right now, and we are not sure when we will get the clearance to move on – it’s like hiking to the next village and the next. Yet I am confident that God will accompany us and provide for us all along the way.

Like this day two years ago, it may not look like what I expect, yet I need to remain open to the possibility of provision and service around me right now and each day.