Buen Camino Again

I have discovered along the way how easily Pilgrims are to spot in any town along the Camino. Their slight to extreme hobble, a very underdressed look compared to the decked out Spanish, knee or ankle braces, sunburned, than once seated comparing their new and old blisters is a must, as well as trading theories on curing those darn things, an alcoholic drink in hand, and a smile on their face… Oh Buen Camino!!
To be honest this Camino adventure is not really what I had expected. I mean I did not know what to expect, but it has been fairly hard. Like fellow pilgrims I have dealt with several blisters, sunburn, a surprisingly painful bee sting, an terrible stomach virus yesterday, a quite heavy pack, as well as sore feet, knees, and hips. It would be a lie to tell anyone that this was an easy trek. No it is not Everest, for we have a place to stay every night, towns all along the way to get a great cup of café con leche or a fresh baguette, and stunning scenery. Yet, it is still very challenging.
Among the pilgrims traveling the Camino it is thought that there are three stages. They are Physical, Mental, and Spiritual. I am almost half way through my journey and as stated above oh boy have I experienced the Physical, and in every realm. I now am in a different area of the Camino known for its flat plains, and long stretches in between towns. I am totally feeling the mental strain now. For walking practically alone, for about 7 hours, with little change in scenery or town, is the perfect recipe to get your brain into a tizzy. The past few days I have spent the hours listening to music, praying, crying who knows how many times, thinking about home, my loved ones, my Germany experience, and wondering why the heck did I choose to walk 25-30 km a day…You know I am not sure right now. But I have learned SO much already. I wonder how God could possibly teach me more in these next few weeks. I got an big wake up call, of my thirst for control in my life. And Boom, HELLO, my plan for my life sucks. I praise The Lord all through the day that He is holding my hand leading me on along this walk into His beautiful plan. A new start each day. He never ceases to make us new, we just need to rely on him. Lean on his immaculate grace. I am dumbfounded by His mercy…yet I think that is the perfect place to be. For if I could understand my Heavenly Father, would He really be God? God is inconceivable (yes said in the same way as the guy from Princess Bride). "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us.." Ephesians 3:20. Each day when I wake up sore, in a new bed, and in a new city, I just have to remind myself of God's promise that He will never leave me or forsake me. And not only that, but He is walking beside me every step of the way, I just have to choose to draw nearer to Him.

Buen Camino (Greeting said to Pilgrims from fellow Pilgrims as well most Spaniards you pass by, literally it means Good Path/way)

Buen Camino

There is anticipation in the air. 

Josh and I arrived at our Albergue (hostel) this morning in Pamplona after a sleepless night outside a fairly fridge French Train station. 

Arriving to our albergue and re-packing my now-seeming ginormous pack made this reality seem real at last!  

We thus proceeded to wash our already filthy clothes today while chilling at the Albergue. Oh boy it was a riot, and since we are too cheap for to use the washers here at the hostel we decided to wash them all buy hand. I remember at one time I thought, "this is so fun, why don't we do this more often?" Then the voice of reason chimed in (Josh), "Because we have machines that can do it for us…" Anyway it was fun. Now, I only if they would dry… 

Tomorrow before the sun fully comes up we set out on the way for our first destination Puente la Reina. It is about 23 kilometers (14.5 miles) and I am just so ready to hit the trail. With a Spanish baguette in one hand, and a perfect little sized packet of left over Bode (bodenseehof) jam in the other, I will be ready to take on the Camino! (Oh and the jam is Raspberry, of course) 

Buen Camino! 

The Journey is the Adventure

The journey is the adventure 

So today it begins…

1 pack 

1 Fellow Pilgrim (Josh) 

2 Feet

5 weeks 

706 Kilometers 

Camino de Santiago 

This is a pilgrimage that has been travelled for over a thousand years. The trek begins just about anywhere in Europe, ending at the Magnificant Saint James Cathedral in Santiago, Spain where it has been said that James' bones lay, who was a disciple of Jesus. Pilgrimages from all over the world take on this religious and inspirational trek every year. And in five days, I will be one of them. I will be walking from Pamplona, Spain to Santiago and then maybe to Muxia, where land meets the Atlantic Ocean. I have been anticipating this adventure for two years when I first discovered the Camino from the movie, The Way with Martin Sheen. A spark was light that has just turned into a bonfire of interest and researching. Now, I am sitting at the airport in Stuttgart, Germany realizing my once dream is now coming to fruition. 

These next five weeks on the Camino are not about the destination. It is not about seeing an old church, for I have seen my full in Germany. It is not about James' bones, for he is just some old guy who walked with the Lord, just as I am doing today. It is not about the exercise, though a great way to slim down, I would eat all the incredible German delicacies like cakes, pretzels, multiple bars of Ritter Sport and Milka Chocolate, and bread till the end of my days. It is not about the scenery, which will still leave me in awe each day but for after about a week I am sure it will all begin to look all too similar. 

NO!

This is trip where the Journey is the destination. Where the journey is the adventure. 

I am walking 706 kilometers to draw closer to the Lord. To listen to Him. To meet people from around the world, who are taking a huge chuck of time out of their busy lives to just, walk. To just be. To be honest I have no expectations for this trip. I do not know what the Lord has planed for me. Yet, I know I will be walking with the Lord each day. Leaning on Him each second of the day. To draw nearer to my Redeemer. 

At the end of Bible School, I was given a verse.

Psalms 3:3 

"But you , O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high." 

Let the adventure begin…

Be Still

"Be Still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
"Seid still und erkennt, daß ich Gott bin" Psalmen 46:10

What a God we have! He tells us to Bask in His Glory, to Cease Striving, to Be Content, to Quit Running, and to just Know that HE is The Lord. This verse has been my daily prayer for awhile now. Through this prayer I have learned so much about God's Character. Oh he lovely.
This leads me to what is going on in my life today. I leaving in 8 days for Europe!! I am going to a 7 month Bible school in Germany. Where practically all my ancestors are from, what an honor. But I am not just snapping pictures of castles, eating dozens of pretzels, or even just tracing my ancestral roots. I am going to be practicing that very verse. I will be studying the words of God with about 100 other students, and just basking in awe of the Lord.
I do not know many details of my adventure but, I pray this will be a time a growth, meditation on The Lord, renewal, and an opportunity to intensely focus on our Creator. I pray this experience will show me how to Glorify The Lord in EVERYTHING I do.
I hope to post every so often to tell stories of my adventure in Germany. And what I am learning.

Please pray for an open heart, safety, and protection against the Evil One.

A Lovely Farm in Maryland 

In Christ Alone My Hope is Found

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

I think many of us know the words to this great old Hymn, In Christ Alone. If sung in Church we would sing along maybe throw in a few harmony notes. But, do we truly know what we are singing? Or what they say? Through my sisters wedding, where they used this lovely hymn,  I began to actually think about them. 

In Christ ALONE my HOPE is FOUND. 

Thus through Christ, the Son of the Most High Lord, who came in the flesh to the very Earth he created; In him ALONE we are REDEEMED. We were living in darkness and despair but now a light shines through.  We no longer need to be in sorrow; for we have been FOUND. And now we have HOPE! To me this has been monumental. I realized I need not fear, for God is in complete control of my life. So fear and worry is doubting his immense power and authority. This being said, I still struggle with fear and doubt as every human. But, now as believers our HOPE has been FOUND. And the key to the Hope box is JESUS CHRIST. The Beginning, the Eternal, the Author, Perfecter, The KING, our Rock, our Redeemer...

What a Gift. 

Now what will we do with this marvelous gift? 

Dawn And Dusk

The dawn of a new day brings light and life. It creeps into the darkest corners of the earth. Breeching green canopies; to fall upon awakening leaves. 

But oh how the earth yearns for the dusk. The lulling comfort of silence consuming the air. Reaching sleepy nooks; to revive my heart.  

Change is the Season

There is something changing. Slow. Yet changing.
Growing up has never felt more real, more scary, and more exciting than it does right now. I have placed the puzzle pieces of my hopes, dreams, and expectations down on the table; for I know my Heavenly Father has a plan far greater than I could ever wish for and he is the only one who can put the puzzle pieces, that I call my life together in their perfect fit.
I pray for humility, courage, wisdom, and grace, for the road ahead is filled with potholes and puddles; ditches and diversions; traffic and tolls...yet in all this what do I have to fear? Nothing. "The Lord directs the steps of the godly, he delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." Psalms 37:23-24
I walk forward with God lighting my path.
There is something changing. Surely changing.