Little Things

CAMINO STAGE 29: Baleira to Lugo Primitivo Route of El Camino De Santiago 20 miles, Day 31, 6 days to go

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It’s small things, even just one step, that have a cumulative effect on the Camino…. Yesterday’s walk took a toll on the psyche and bodies of our little Camino family shuffling on. We saw one hungry pilgrim from Spain eating food scraps off another person’s abandoned plate. Another two Portugal pilgrims had to stop only after a few miles as their legs could not hold them up. One pilgrim from the US hobbled on in her sandals in the mud, boots tied and swaying from her pack, her feet too battered and swollen to get shoes on. Another man could only take a few steps before sitting down again and again to rework the tape on his swollen leg. 135 km to Santiago….

But then a sign on a fence post, a man inviting pilgrims to sit and eat melon, apples and walnuts from his farm. We sat on a tree stump not far from the hungry pilgrim and rejoiced he had something to eat and the man with a taped leg could sit. A 126 km to Santiago…A small gesture had lasting ripples.

“Understand the virtue of small things.” Greg Mortensen

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We were not without our own pain… when you are in pain, you notice so many others worse off than you. It’s in that suffering that we cheer each other on, one foot in front of the other….a smile anyway….118 km more to go to Santiago,…

“Small things are best, especially those done with love.”

Mother Teresa

My vision narrows and simultaneously expands when I’m in pain. Green doors lighten the gloom and whisper push on anyway. Horses whinny an encouragement and a church missing two of its three bells reminds me broken doesn’t mean you have to quit….105 km to Santiago

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“IF YOU CANNOT DO GREAT THINGS, do small things in a great way.”

SACHIN RAMDAS BHARATIYA

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So many simple things add up to great things in life and on the Camino. We all need each other and small acts of encouragement … an aspirin here, a ‘you can do this’ there, a friend to walk along with you. A reminder that minute kindness grows and expands….

“The smallest things can make you feel good about being alive.” Marty Rubin

100 km… we reached the old walled city… heavens opened with crazy wind and rain as we staggered into Lugo. But shortly after, the sun came out so we could see the end of traditional festival dance, and could walk the Roman wall ramparts. This incredible UNESCO wall with 10 gates and 71 towers rings Lugo for nearly two miles.

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As we wove through festival music, parades and crowds and saw other limping pilgrims smiling and waving and appreciating the victory of finishing another day…. I thought maybe the real Camino begins now…98 km to Santiago…