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)”
Tag Archives: Travel
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 is searching: Reflections at 400 miles
As I cross the 400-mile mark, I’ve been reflecting on Idle’s idea that on a pilgrimage one is searching. Certainly, the Three Magi were searching for the baby Jesus. What are other people searching for as they walk the Camino? One of the surprising aspects of walking the Camino has been the number of youngContinue reading “One is searching: Reflections at 400 miles”
One needs to be full of zeal: Reflections after 300 miles
I have now officially crossed the 300-mile mark. I’m amazed. How on earth did that happen? Growing up, I was certainly no athlete. In high school my squash coach (sports were required) was aghast when I told him I liked the game because it didn’t require a lot of extraneous running around and sweating. AsContinue reading “One needs to be full of zeal: Reflections after 300 miles”
One will be known: Thoughts after 200 miles
Shortly before starting out on my Camino, I had dinner with former colleagues from the Asia Society, where I worked before coming to Episcopal Relief & Development. It was hard to leave that job and the people I supervised. I consoled myself with the idea that now that I didn’t have to be their boss anymore, we could beContinue reading “One will be known: Thoughts after 200 miles”
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”
In Pursuit of the Three Magi
Greetings from St. Jean Pied de Port in France. Tomorrow morning, I set out walking the Camino de Santiago. Over the last several months, I’ve had occasion to think about what it is to be a pilgrim. The first pilgrims in the Christian tradition were probably the three Wisemen, or Magi, who traveled to visitContinue reading “In Pursuit of the Three Magi”
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”
Rob's Reflections 