October, 2018: A Pilgrimage

Walk in Beauty: Pilgrimage of El Camino de Santiago, Spain, North Coast Route
 
“No one is ready for the Camino, but the Camino is ready for you.” Wes Granberg-Michaelson
 
I leave this Friday to walk the Northern Coast of Spain known to be one of the loveliest paths to journey out of the 39 different caminos, or Way of St James lead to Santiago de Compostela. I love the idea that despite all the planning one never feels ‘ready’ to expect all that is to come but that the Camino is always ready for whoever walks it!  As Pastor Sue stated during Sunday’s blessing, “Remember you and those you travel with will not be tourists. You are pilgrims. You will receive many blessings on this pilgrimage and the most memorable ones will be those that are unplanned and unexpected.” I relish that and appreciate all your prayers as I too will hold you in my heart and prayers with every step I take.  I’ll be with 16 others, including my husband plus guides and lead by an experienced retreat and pilgrimage leader. It’s her words I share with you below plus our itinerary so that you too can travel with us in mind, spirit, and meditation. May God bless us all this pumpkin month of Half Moon Bay!!

Pastor Dawn 
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What it Means to be a Pilgrim
                To embark on a pilgrimage is to travel to a sacred place with a sacred purpose. It is an inward and outward journey of spiritual significance and with devotion.  A pilgrimage is not a walking vacation or ‘seeing the sights’, or being a tourist in the sense of being entertained. This is a different kind of journey; it is a pilgrimage, not a tour. You won’t be rushing from site to site to get it all in.  You will be rooted in the daily act of walking in a particular place: the ancient path of El Camino de Santiago. I love pilgrimage because I love the intimacy of walking. Planting my feet on solid ground and moving at human pace. In our crazy busy lifestyle, the immediacy of life is often lost on us.  While walking we begin to slow down, allowing our ‘heart and head to catch up to our feet’, experiencing the world at three miles an hour.
                We begin our journey in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Madrid with an outstanding array of world-class museums, restaurants, and parks.  We end our journey in Santiago de Compostela, a medieval city with many beautiful and inspiring buildings, monuments, monasteries, churches, as well as fabulous Galician cuisine, music, and shopping. Music pours off the streets and out of cafes. Becoming a pilgrim doesn’t mean removing yourself from life, but immersing yourself in the vibrant pulse of the world with practices to keep you centered. Come not to take, but to receive. Don't be a tourist, be a pilgrim! Buen Camino!  By Valerie Brown, JD, MA, PCC, Pilgrimage Leader and Courage & Renewal Facilitator  www.leadsmartcoaching.com


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