Ghostly figures dart in and out of the mist as we climb mountains up from tiny villages each morning, heading toward our cathedral in Santiago. Unsure whether they are animals, people, or figments of my imagination, I strain my eyes and quicken my steps, thinking to get a better glimpse. Yes, a pilgrim! My heartbeat slows, but my feet do not. We must hurry! Obviously leaving before sunrise means there is a crowd behind us, and we must not waste the jump ahead we have achieved. How dare this guy in front of me try to beat me at this game! I've been awake since 4 AM, and that counts for something! Perhaps a little mention that there is a monument just down the lille side trail there... This is normal mode, the American way. Aren't we all raised to some extent by society to feel this way? Hustle bustle, beat the crowd, be first. If it's not "Those with the most toys wins," it's at the very least a phrase with the word win in it.
The Camino though, is supposed to remove us from this mindset, reset us, so I've heard, but unfortunately many here aren't interested. The goal is DO IT, and if someone can keep up, perhaps there can be a conversation. Lots of folks seem to take this attitude. When I started this whole Camino business, I knew this chick's natural instinct would be to hurry and go go go. I also knew that wasn't the point for me. So I began reminding myself not to rush, to instead make time for people, with the side benefit of hopefully not getting injured. Every day, however, I have to focus on what is important for me. And every day there are pilgrims hurrying past, seemingly uninterested in anything other than the cathedral in the far distance. We all must ask ourselves what the ultimate goal is for ourselves, what the point is of this thing called "life" we're doing. Perhaps the saying "Buen Camino," or "Good Way," should more important for me, for all of us, than a cathedral or how many toys we have at the end.
The Camino though, is supposed to remove us from this mindset, reset us, so I've heard, but unfortunately many here aren't interested. The goal is DO IT, and if someone can keep up, perhaps there can be a conversation. Lots of folks seem to take this attitude. When I started this whole Camino business, I knew this chick's natural instinct would be to hurry and go go go. I also knew that wasn't the point for me. So I began reminding myself not to rush, to instead make time for people, with the side benefit of hopefully not getting injured. Every day, however, I have to focus on what is important for me. And every day there are pilgrims hurrying past, seemingly uninterested in anything other than the cathedral in the far distance. We all must ask ourselves what the ultimate goal is for ourselves, what the point is of this thing called "life" we're doing. Perhaps the saying "Buen Camino," or "Good Way," should more important for me, for all of us, than a cathedral or how many toys we have at the end.