Metaphor, Metaphor

Metaphor is that literary form that has meaning beyond itself.  Walking down the Camino is a festival of metaphors; metaphors that point to the path of life.  The way to preserver as you walk continually each day is to simply focus on each step with head down and pace constant.  Every once in a while you raise your head to look for markers to keep you on the intended path; but then return to pace and position looking at the path as you traverse it.  What you see is metaphor.  

You see patterns of treads from thousands of hiking shoes and boots of all kinds and brands.  You see only the partial and never a consistent whole.  Each tread is overcome and replaced by the one that came after it. You see patterns of treads of bicycle tires more consistent than shoes and boots; but also quickly over ridden by another.  You see metaphors for people whose lives are both independent and intertwined by the path of their lives on the Camino.  You see a metaphor for all of our lives; intertwined, independent; overlapping and yet a community at the same time.  

The Camino is scenic at times; taking the pilgrim down lanes of isolated nature in woods and fields and conveying peace.  The Camino is challenging at times demanding the assent of remote paths into the hills and mountains and yielding breath taking moments as the reward is peering out over vistas of vast beauty. The Camino is routine at times as the path partners its way along the highways of commerce that scream with the noise of trucks and autos. The Camino is grotesque at times as the path takes the pilgrim past industrial areas, waster areas, even garbage dumps.  To whatever view the Camino takes the pilgrim the role of the pilgrim is simply to give thanks and place their gaze to the next placement of the next step given the ability to make the same from God. 

In micro as one contemplates each step or in macro as one contemplates settings or context of multiple steps or the path as a totality it is metaphor; a metaphor of the gift of life in its beauty, it's routine or even its ugliness.  It is a gift from God.  It is the reality and the gift of life the path we walk today in the sure and certain hope of the path to come where by grace we will step.

Parable of the Wine

A parable to share this day; what I call the parable of the wine.  Walking on a pilgrimage to Santigo de Compostela one day a pilgrim came to a hostel or Albergue that was somewhat unique; a place where pilgrims were told to be at home; where the kitchen was fully stocked with food for the use of pilgrims and the cost was left up to the individual.  It was called an honest kitchen; one where you used whatever you wished and placed in the container the value of that which was used; as you alone determined it.  It as a communal experience.

One pilgrim bought a bottle of wine; fine Spanish wine costing 1.50 euros and brought it back to the kitchen had a glass wine and told other pilgrims it was theirs to enjoy.  Later in the day the pilgrim who bought the wine came back for another glass; but found a smiling German pilgrim who had just finished the wine.  The pilgrim who had purchased the wine had not told his German friend the wine was for anyone; but rather he assumed it as such and finished the bottle.

Later at dinner time the first pilgrim was making his dinner from the communal kitchen; opened the refrigerator and there was a bottle of fine Spanish wine; communal wine he thought and he took a glass.  As he sat down in the garden to enjoy dinner and a fine wine he heard a cry from the Spainish pilgrim at the other end of the table. "Why are you drinking my wine; a wine of five euros in cost; and my wine!" What responded the first. "Any wine in the communal kitchen is for the community; the value of my glass is in the collection box." The Spansh pilgrim was angry, finished HIS bottle quickly, muted run the whole time. 

Now what is the meaning of this parable? That is up to the reader. First drink a glass of wine!

Old Habits Hang ON

Habits Die Hard

Why do two men at 6:30 in the morning stand at a pedestrian crossing with no traffic and refuse to walk against the light; not for a few seconds but for a few minutes.  One man is Japanese and from a culture where such individuality is frowned upon; the other a man who lived in Japan recognized the fellow traveler as a person from Japan and was determined to to insult the culture of a Japanese pilgrim in Spain by moving forward.  Habits some good some not so are hard to break even when on a pilgrimage.  For the Japanese man the idea that in Spain he had to observe the same conventions that he learned in Japan; for the other man the same determination that he did not want to embarrass the Japanese man; or be judged by that same man to be less than honorable.  If both are on the Camino in Spain to experience new directions; to be open to new ways is it not time to leave old habits behind?  God answered the question when I turned to my left; getting impatient with the time delay and noticed a button that was to be pushed to change the signal from red to green.  On Camino God is pushing our buttons to find new ways and new life.  The same happens each day no matter where anyone is on their path.  We need to turn and notice!!!

Gift or Desperation 

We stayed in an Albergue last evening that was in fact a mission outreach for  Oasis Ministries.  We were in the village of Villamayor de Monjardin.  I was a bit taken back when they prayed at dinner; tried to engage in conversation that allowed the sharing of faith stories; gave us the Gospel according to John as a gift in the language of each person at dinner and finally let us know that there was a time for reflection offered at 8:30 pm.  Upon reflection however I noted that nothing was offered with an edge of Church evangelism; the staff was from multiple denominations; thus no visible denominational doctrine etc.  The entire offerings  were a gift for the pilgrim; regardless of faith tradition.  The good news of Jesus Christ was shared as pure gift.  The motivation as presented was welcoming gift.  It felt much different even more genuine than evangelism whose motive feels more like an attempt to salvage an institution; the Church than the simply gifting as we have been gifted with the eternal all inclusive love of God in Jesus Christ.  

Perhaps evangelism as pure gift; motivation that grows out of sharing the gift we have already received rather than as a means to preserve the institution is the only real evangelism for each of us to engage.  Motive matters; sharing love is gifting. Recruiting out of fear for the institution is passive taking away.

Thoughts from a Medival Town

Thought from Cirauqui, Spain

It is a ok if you have never of Cirauqui, Spain.  It is a medival town of 450 or so inhabitants.  The name in Basque means placer of vipers; a town build a about 1000 years ago on a hill opt rock.  Here like in many of the towns there is a central church and a populace that is well just friendly and welcoming.  They welcome with hospitality and smiles those who walk the Camino for whatever it is we seek in our pilgrimage.  They welcome those who seek meaning; those who seek direction; those who seek the joy of sacrifice; those who walk for ... This is a path I choose to walk to Santiago to hear the voice of God in the people of this town; in the openness of fellow pilgrims willing to share their stories. The days are long; the pain is consistent and constant; but it may not overcome the joy of walking to hear God; in the voices of the sounds along the path, in the sharing of fellow pilgrims; in the smiles and wisdom of the shop keepers. So tonight one rests in a medival town and tomorrow in another  village along Camino until Santiago or until God chooses to end the path.

JB

Focus for Your Path

Focus for the Path

Walking Camino to Pamplona the words that came to me were "focus on the stones; your stones that would cause to you stumble from God's path for you.  When you focus on them you overcome them; you accept they are there; either of your own making or placed there for reasons never to be understood; but able to be overcome with the gift of vision from God."  As this was being pondered; the thought that rapped around me was Jesus reminding us about the splinter in another's eye that we emphasize and miss the log in our own; log or stone we stray from the path of God's inclusive love; the path we have been given.  Focus on the path; with clear vision overcome the stones; your stones.

JB

Sabbath Preparation

The last Sunday before preparation is over and reality of the Camino begins; today there is no physical training; but a continuation of psychological by observing Sabbath rest.  Today the lessons of the lectionaries are my reading.  While on Camino each Sunday will bring the opportunity to find a  place in the nave of a village church and read a Gospel account; Mark then Matthew, Luke and finally John.

WEIGHT

It's about weight when you are walking to Santiago; the weight you carry is the burden you choose to bear; the lesson on the body is the need to seek thankfulness for what God provides and leave the burdens of excess that bring harmful weight behind.  That is also a lesson from the end of training for Camino.  The last two days free from the pack that needed to be prepared for the flight to Spain eventually to begin in France the walks for training felt more like pleasant strolls that training. The mind was open to listen to the waking of the birds and other creatures and perhaps even an unknown whisper.  The first day after a rain there was a strange new sound of applause from the trees.  The leaves still wet with moisture released droplets of water as the breeze moved the leaves and the sound from one droplet to another as they hit the next leaf was like the applause of the tree to God for the refreshment of the rain.  May the day be one of refreshment in the presence of the one who sends the rain and invites us to walk free of the excess.

Peace,

JB

Process in the Present

Now training the necessary moves towards final stages; distances approaching what will be the course of the daily enterprise on Camino.  Thus 20k today July the 15th with the start about one month away and the departure to Spain about three weeks.  This continues with some let off as the start approaches in order to maintain fitness while giving the body and mind a chance to build up for the task at hand; to engage in another phase of the continuing process of life in the present; engage and live in the process.  As I was training the 20k today in heat that finished at 30 C the thought that came around was the importance of staying in the moment of the process or the present; neither looking back to what was nor being deluded into the illusion that there is a finish.  Each time we worry about the regrets of the past; or focus on the finish ahead thinking issues will be resolved we are deluded and miss the clarity of the present.  Stewardship of the precious present; gifted from God is after all the only reality that we in some sense control; ourselves and how we react in the present.  Training today then rather than focus on finishing 20k it was better to focus on the surroundings of the area where I walked; the sounds of a neighborhood waking for a new day at the end of the work week.  Early there is little outside the melody of the birds that changes as the sun rises higher in the sky.  Humanity then begins to come back to public life; fellow morning walkers appear; then vehicles; then sounds of lawn mowers.  All is interspersed with the sound and sight of squirrels running about. Internal sensitivity is also part of the present requiring awareness; the reactions of the body on this particular day to the new distances; to the differing heat and humidity; to the need to adjust the weight of the pack loaded for training within a pound of a full load on Camino.  With a sense of your own pacing and level of clarity the body tells you when to take on more water for the water lost through sweat.  The only reality over which we have some vision of control is the present.

I wonder then how living out the present faithfully to the principles we have come to call our personal ethic of conduct; not regretting or celebrating past nor dwelling on the glories or peril of the future that may come changes us.  Perhaps it changes how we participate in the continuous need for things like peace in society; equality and respect among people of all races and cultures.  There is no valid utopian vision of the future to be achieved; rather the need for each of us beginning with ourselves to stay in the process or processes that generate peace, equality; respect etc.  The teaching of Jesus does then not take us to a finish but rather becomes the tool of our stewardship of the precious present.

Just Bob

Training Reflection for July 5

Training the "Necessary" 

As one looks to the pilgrimage of El Camino de Santiago de Franco one source says training is helpful.  Leslie Gilmour suggests that though training is not absolutely needed one may enhance the experience beyond a lot of early pain by preparation; stands to reason.  Thus starting the day after retirement I added  physical training  to language training in preparation for what is to come.  The suggestion of the author was for twelve weeks of physical preparation; like most starting slowly and building.  Building in the heat of the South Carolina summer is no fun; but no training that I have experienced is ever fun; always simply necessary.  Physical training; walking significant distances prepares both the body and the mind; not just the body.  As you walk free of technology; meaning no head phones; you allow yourself to be open to contemplation.  Perhaps contemplation may be based upon devotional reading completed earlier; upon reflections on the sermon heard at the last sabbath; upon your own search for the true servant self that God has created in your life.  The prayer is that with both language and complete physical training the pilgrimage may yield the hope for which it is taken; always open to the possibility that God has surprises beyond what one may expect; in fact that may be the only certainty that in humility one may expect.  Training is necessary; no question; but not fun; also no question.

Just Bob

So Now What?

As this servant of the Christ enters an opportunity to re....tire the question arises for me as for all who come to this second or third phase of life: now what to serve God; what path does a steward of life given is now to be traveled? Forty days to be open to the one who is the source of life is the start for me and by this blog a process I would share with you; perhaps a way to serve while being open and trying to discern.  Now in training I begin the pilgrimage taken by many known as the Camino de Santiago de Frances starting out on August 22 from St. Jean Pied de Port. As wifi is able to be used each day my intent is to share thoughts; musings etc as well as pictures of the path.  You are invited to come with me through this blog.

Peace,

Just Bob

So Now What?

As this servant of the Christ enters an opportunity to re....tire the question arises for me as for all who come to this second or third phase of life: now what to serve God; what path does a steward of life given is now to be traveled? Forty days to be open to the one who is the source of life is the start for me and by this blog a process I would share with you; perhaps a way to serve while being open and trying to discern.  Now in training I begin the pilgrimage taken by many known as the Camino de Santiago de Frances starting out on August 22 from St. Jean Pied de Port. As wifi is able to be used each day my intent is to share thoughts; musings etc as well as pictures of the path.  You are invited to come with me through this blog.

Peace,

Just Bob