Dear family and friends, As I depart Spain this morning and return to the hustle and bustle of pre-holiday preparations, I want to take a moment to express my profound gratitude to all of you for joining me on my Camino to Santiago de Compostela. I am especially grateful to the board of Episcopal ReliefContinue reading “Gratitude”
Tag Archives: religion
One is embarking on a strange journey: Reflections after 500 miles (Part Two)
Now that I have completed my Camino and have started to look back on my experience for a few days, I have come to realize that the most important and, in Idle’s words, “strange” part of my journey is just beginning: the journey of reflection. One could fill a small library with books of people’sContinue reading “One is embarking on a strange journey: Reflections after 500 miles (Part Two)”
One will be named: Reflections after 500 miles (Part One)
We walked into Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday afternoon. 500 miles done! I set out on the Camino with two goals. First, I wanted to take on the physical challenge of walking 500 miles. Second, I wanted to raise money for Episcopal Relief & Development’s work with children. Both of those goals have been achievedContinue reading “One will be named: Reflections after 500 miles (Part One)”
One will be claimed: Reflections on making it halfway
Today I officially passed the halfway point on my Camino to Santiago de Compostela. There are fewer than 250 miles to go. As I’ve been walking, I’ve been stopping at churches along the way. When I stopped at Nuestra Señora de Monasterio Chapel, I was welcomed by a sister from the Daughters of Charity. SheContinue reading “One will be claimed: Reflections on making it halfway”
One will be lost: Reflections on the first 100 miles
Between Los Arcos and Logroño, I passed the 100-mile mark on my Camino. I’m officially at 110.4 miles. That feels good. If I can do this much, I think I can do the entire thing. As I’ve been walking, I’ve thought quite a bit about Christopher Idle’s Epiphany hymn, mentioned in my previous post. InContinue reading “One will be lost: Reflections on the first 100 miles”
Walking and Pilgrimage
Not far from where we stayed in Crete this summer, approximately 50 footprints were found in soft calcite clay sediment. The rock was dated by examining microfossils in surrounding rocks to 6.05 million years ago, at the start of the Messinian Age. The scattered footprints are believed to have been made by a close relativeContinue reading “Walking and Pilgrimage”
Training to Walk the Camino
Over the last year, I have been training to walk the Camino. At my age, balance and muscle resilience are key to a successful walk. That, and endurance. I’m now in week eleven of twelve for training. By the end of this week, I need to be able to hike five hours in hilly terrainContinue reading “Training to Walk the Camino”
The Scallop Shell
Many pilgrims on the Camino tie a scallop shell to their backpacks or on the laces of their boots. The scallop shell is also used to mark the route one is meant to walk on the way to Santiago de Compostela. So, what’s the deal with that? The association of St. James with scallops takes usContinue reading “The Scallop Shell”
Who was St. James?
As I prepare for my Camino, it occurs to me that I should learn a little about St. James the Great whose relics are believed to buried at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. 500 miles is a long way to walk without knowing anything about the person who has inspired millions to make a pilgrimage toContinue reading “Who was St. James?”
Opening the Gates of Heaven for Ramadan
We are now almost through the month-long observance of Ramadan. A few weeks ago I came across the following quote: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained.” This hadith from the Sahih al-Bukhari doesn’t mince words. ItContinue reading “Opening the Gates of Heaven for Ramadan”
Rob's Reflections 