ON TO THE BEGINNING OF THE END

29 September 2023, Camino 3, Day 30

Triacastela to Sarria

Today we enter the last 100 km of the Camino Frances de Santiago. I feel funny about this. A month ago I was saying to myself “OMG! I still have a month of this to do?!” And now it’s the final phase.

A lot of pilgrims only walk the last 100 km. As I said yesterday for some it is a resume requirement, for others who do the camino a week or two each year it’s the final stage, and for some it’s a walking holiday. It’s hard for those of us who have been walking a great distance to merge into this last segment.

These other pilgrims are clean. Many of them carry daypacks as their luggage is sent ahead. And they are so happy. They have a spring in their step and cry out heartily, “buen camino!” while the rest of us are trudging in to Santiago resentful of this intrusion into our private time with God.

I try to remind myself that I was like that when I started out from St. Jean Pied de Port or Pamplona. But I still dislike this boisterous interruption to my communing. I think though that this time has a purpose like other parts of the camino. I think this is God’s way of telling me that I can’t stay in contemplation all the time. I must re-enter the world. And I can still bring all the gifts that have been given to me.

So today’s a day of transition.

Buen Camino