In 9 days I will be leaving for Spain to embark
on a pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. This is an ancient route traveled by thousands
of pilgrims on foot since medieval times.
The route begins in the Pyrenees and heads west for 800 kilometers (500
miles) across Northern Spain, ending at the Cathedral of Santiago de
Compostela, where the relics of the Apostle James are purported to be. I hope to complete the journey in about five
weeks. There are places to stay along the way and the route is well traveled by
other pilgrims, so while I am making the trip alone, there will be others
around. More information about the
Camino can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago.
Why would I want to walk this far? Well, I am not entirely sure. It seems like my life has been a whirlwind
for the past several years, especially since I began my journey to the Priesthood. While I am more confident of my vocation with
each passing day, I still have a few questions for God. When I look back on my life, I can see that while
I made my share of mistakes, and have had my share of heartbreak, I have been
incredibly blessed. I have had a
wonderful career doing what I love and I have a family that brings me
incredible joy. And now, this call to
become a Priest. While some see this as
obedience, or my gift back to God or His people, I see the call as another
wonderful blessing. That God would
choose me to minister to His flock… I guess that what I hope to find on this
pilgrimage is an answer to the question, Why me?
I think better when I walk. I love being outdoors. When I walk, I talk, usually in my head, but occasionally
out loud. (Not when other people are around.) Sometimes I talk to myself,
sometimes to God. And I listen. It is hard for me to sit still and listen for
God’s voice, but when I am walking I can lose myself in my thoughts, and
hopefully His. Walking does not take much
skill, and for me, it is like a mantra. The
rhythm of the footsteps and the breathing become a prayer. And, along the way you get to experience the
beauty of God’s creation and be a part of it.
It is hard to believe that my seminary formation
is half over. Next spring, God willing,
I will be ordained a Deacon, and a year after that, a Priest. The pace of formation has been hectic. While there is certainly a spiritual side to
priestly formation, it is sometimes shoehorned in around academic and pastoral
activities. I know that I have to make time
each day to set aside studies and pray, and I am usually successful at
that. But the notion of spending several
weeks outside with this as my only agenda is exciting. The heaviest item in my backpack is an empty
journal which I hope to fill along the way.
My family and close friends have asked that I let
them know of my progress, so I will post updates on Facebook as I get internet
access so they will know I am alive and well.
I hope to see many of you later this summer as I will be returning to
Texas at the end of June to complete my summer assignment At Our Lady of the
Lake in Rockwall. Please know that I will
be praying for you as I walk. I ask that
you would pray for me during this time as well, as I know that you do
anyway.
Happy are those who find refuge in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrim roads.
Psalm 84:6
Happy are those who find refuge in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrim roads.
Psalm 84:6
Peace and Blessings in Christ,
Russ
