Spain's Camino de Santiago

With my roommate finally back from Spain, I have been able to ask her about her time there and learn of this pilgrimage.

The first time I heard of the Camino de Santiago was when my roommate shared with the interns why she was going to Spain. The Camino de Santiago is known as a Christian pilgrimage. It's on the same list as the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Rome.

Although it has increasingly become secularized, this hike was used since Medieval times to travel to the shrine of St. James as well as to pay penance to the Catholic church. Since then, it is used as a hike to find answers and grow spiritually.

I've been fascinated by the idea of there being a hike like this for so long! The longest route is 500 miles, however, there are many routes to get to the end place.

Because of the history of this hike, many Christian groups go with the purpose of meeting others on the trail who are trying to find answers. As I asked my roommate about her experience, I was able to learn and share in the lessons she encountered.

IT SYMBOLIZES OUR WALK WITH CHRIST  Although the trail is mostly on flat land, after walking 10 days for 15 miles a day, your body gets tired. Along the path there are many signs pointing to the way, however, people sometimes decide to get off the path.

People living in nearby towns recognize pilgrims and begin to point them to the path, asking them why they're off. In the same way, our walk with Christ is difficult and tiring.

Sometimes we think that doing it our way is better, and then we realize we are making it harder on us. However, it is important to have others around us who can point us back to where we should be instead.

MATERIALISM  As I learned more of the route, I began to ask how packing worked. My roommate proceeded to share that packing light was crucial. "Whatever you put in your backpack, you will feel the weight of it for the whole journey. You start looking at your items and wondering, do I really need this?"

I was struck by that comment. Often times we complain of the bills we have to pay or the expenses we had for the week, yet those are things we chose to buy. We are the ones piling on the objects and gadgets and then complaining of the weight, yet the question remains, what is considered crucial and necessary?

I asked the same question and my roommate answered with the basic necessities. My following question was on food and sleeping arrangements. Towns alongside the route have grown through the start of the pilgrimage and have hostels, or "albergues", and places to eat, sometimes run by churches or locals.

Because of the influx of pilgrims, the hostels are cheap. "After coming from a journey where you relied on the care of others and didn't know where you would be spending the night, you come to the realization of the amount of surplus we have here in the US. You begin to question how far our material hunger has grown."

DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, ONE END  As I mentioned before, there are many routes to get to the end of the journey. Through it, pilgrims meet others and share in the albergues which route they are coming from.

This creates an interesting way of conversation as pilgrims ask each other of the difficulties they encountered on the way or the scenery they came across with. In the same way, we all have a different past, full of joys and sorrows.

However, in Christ, we are able to learn from each other in this journey to the final goal. Another interesting aspect of the Camino de Santiago were the rocks. It is custom for pilgrims to bring a rock from their homeland known as the rock of sorrow.

This rock symbolizes the pain or hardships the pilgrim brings to the journey. Alongside the route, there are many crosses with piles of rocks, where pilgrims lay their rocks when they see fit.

It symbolizes a surrender and passing along of this grief to Jesus. It also is another great topic for conversation. In the same way, we all come with rocks from our past and to make the load lighter, Jesus asks to hand over our rock, so he can carry it instead.

HIKING  This Saturday the majority of the ladies and I went to Kilgore Falls in Maryland. Initially I was skeptical if it was a good idea for me to go since I am from the flatlands and didn't know how many hills and slopes would be in the hike.

I'm glad to say that I am alive and well! It was a beautiful hike to the waterfall and it wasn't bad. The bad idea came later.

It wasn't a bad idea, it was just uncomfortable. I was asked if I wanted to go to the top of the waterfall and I said sure because I had seen a trail that went to it. I hadn't noticed that there was a little climbing that was done in between a crevice on the rock.

That wasn't the issue, the issue was that once on top of the waterfall, the only thing left to do is to explore. Although the scenery was magnificent, I learned that wet slopes were not my thing.

By the time we got back to the bottom of the waterfall, I was impressed at my small achievement. In many ways, I think of myself as uncappable, and I am. But with the faith and help of others, I was able to see that God pitches in for my lack of expertise.

Apart from that, the trip gave us time to talk and get to know each other a little more, something I enjoyed very much.

PART-TIME JOB  God has been good! This Friday I was able to finish my accounting class so I am officially ready to work a part-time.

I want to thank you all in your prayers as I now have a part-time job. Within this week I was able to interview in two places and received offers in both.

I decided to take the position of breakfast assistant for Fairfield hotel, which is conveniently located in front of the HOPE office. Although it doesn't pay as high as being in the front desk, it would only be mornings of Friday and Saturday, giving me the rest of the day off.

I am in the process of getting my background check and hopefully will be able to start working this week.

CLOSING  It is of great encouragement to see so many friends reading these posts. I am glad you are all enjoying this as much as I am in writing it.

Please pray for my family back home. I love them so much and am glad to have technology aiding us in communicating, but it is still hard.

My sister Rayen is also transitioning from high school to college and I wish I could be there with her. I ask that you pray for her and that she feels confident in her classes and is able to have meaningful relationships with those around her.

As today is Father's Day and I am not home to give my daddy a big hug, I reflect on this verse. In the same way I can call to my dad in such a tender and loving way, God gives me the same relationship because I am His:

Romans 8:15-16

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

About Camino de Santiago: http://santiago-compostela.net/

Camino de Santiago