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