Here is the Daily Office reading for September 1st: Luke 10:1-9

The Mission of the Seventy
10After this the Lord appointed seventy* others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. 3Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”*

What an incredible gospel lesson for beginning this journey! I am taking sandals, a bag and I intend to greet people on the road; however the message is clear: when you are sent out, you are to accept what happens..............a fitting reminder for the Camino.

Less than 24 hours to go..........

OK, I added some weight back in. I had shaved things down to nothing left to shave and one of those deletions included replacing my sandals and flip flops with my Croc sandals at 10 oz. I decided my feet really wouldn't appreciate the Crocs. I walked around with my loaded pack wearing the Crocs and they simply do not offer the support my feet and most particularly my arches need. Sure they are lightweight and very waterproof but if they don't work, they don't work. So back in go the Chaco sandals (sans the flip flops) and a couple of pounds. When all is said and done. you have to go with what your body requires. My husband calls my feet "princess feet" because they react to the slightest of sensations--one tiny grain of rock can cause big problems--hence the gaitors. I have hiked for long distances with no blisters because I make sure my feet are VERY happy. So the extra weight is good news/bad news for my feet: "If ya can't take the weight then don't be so darn picky!"

Yesterday's blessing service was deeply meaningful to me. The weather was forecasted to be lousy but turned out to be spectacular--a sunny, cloudless morning with a slight breeze at a delightful temperature. Many people attended and kids enjoyed the morning while adults sat in their lawn chairs. Celebrating Eucharist and then the pilgrim blessing outside in the meditation garden was very special. God is so very good to us! I received lots of prayer slips to carry with me--they are tucked in with my rosary; and I printed off a copy of our congregational picture taken yesterday morning so that I have lots of smiling faces to remind me that I go surrounded with prayer and love and with prayer work to do.

I have no idea what internet access I will have during my journey. I will update as I can. So until then--wish me Buen Camino!

Three days and counting

Today the last few arrangements came together this afternoon. I now have a place to stay in Santiago (Hostal Alameda) and an airline ticket from Santiago to Seville (can you believe the price jumped 35 euro in three days????). I cannot believe how much relief it brings having these things finalized. Jesus cautioned us about anxiety. But I also believe this difference: if you can do something about it, do it; if you can't, then let that anxiety go--for if you are spinning out of control, you just might miss the window or door opening up just out of sight.

Once again I've gone through pack contents--is there anything I've forgotten? Is there anything there I can delete? I will take my Camino Amigo with me tomorrow for our service. There will be a combined service so everyone will be together. Folks can try my pack on, ask me questions, and otherwise get a glimpse of what the pilgrim life will be over the next five plus weeks. Weather permitting (move along, Danny, move along!), the service will be outside on our gorgeous property looking out over the valley. We will rejoice in the beauty of God's creation even as we give thanks to God for the abundance poured so freely into our midst. And then, after a taste of bread and a sip of wine, we'll gather for a pilgrim blessing and celebrate with an old fashioned ice cream social. If there is something we consistently do well, it is to EAT!

I have been blessed with the gift of a silver shell necklace--to be worn as I walk. I assured the givers that it would be an awful mess by the time this was over but also a constant reminder of those I leave waiting for my return. My husband has taken so much time away from work for tests, injections, etc. that he cannot take me on Tuesday so my next door neighbor will deliver me to Metro for my transit to Reagan National Airport. Last year she had thought about coming with me--not to be, but now she will be the last one to see me off. So many people have been involved in making this dream a reality. How can I thank them/you enough for all your support, encouragement and patience?

The time is growing very short

Introducing my Camino Amigo! Collapsed walking sticks are next to it.

Just four days now before I leave for Spain. So much to do yet but I must wait because the travel insurance company is still making some decisions regarding itinerary change coverage. You purchase travel insurance (admittedly this is the first time I have ever done so!) just in case. The problem is that they want receipts for all changes BEFORE they make a decision--thus leaving the insured in the difficult position of expending money with no idea if reimbursement will actually occur. I am pressing them to make a decision before I leave as I will not have access to phone, FAX and internet while I am walking.

Patience is difficult but the Camino is definitely making itself felt. I need to make arrangements to get from Santiago to Seville (the airline has made it abundantly clear that I cannot change my ticket itinerary in any way) but the what, when and where to stay because of still unknown schedule changes is still all up in the air. There is no easy way to get from Santiago de Compostela to Seville. I can take a more expensive flight and go the morning of my flight back to DC, or I can take a cheaper flight (or train) and spend an entire day getting to Seville the day before my flight home. I want to begin with a measure of freedom knowing that all has been arranged but it may be that it must be untangled as I walk. All this is very distracting at a time when I want to be focused on what it means to leave my husband and congregation for six weeks. In addition, due to many things, I haven't been able to walk with any consistency for almost three weeks so I feel like I am beginning two steps already behind!

My hair has been chopped off. I have packed my pack--again. I will be carrying around 14# without food or water. I have tried to be ruthless. We'll see. Every time I think about hauling it over the Pyrenees, I take another ounce or two out; but there simply isn't much left to eliminate unless I want to walk cold and naked! There is a reason for the burn pit at Finisterre--a place where pilgrims historically burn their clothes. After wearing the same two sets of clothes for six weeks straight (someone commented that they looked exactly the same in every picture taken of them on the Camino because they always had on the same clothes!), I have a feeling I'm not going to want to see my two sets again--or at least for a while! The weather forecast in northern Spain for the first four days I'm there is for rain and cooler temps. Guess I can't dispense with the rain poncho or fleece. God willing, may September weather be as clear and delightful as it usually is! I finally decided to pack a small duffle of "after Camino clothes" so I have an alternative when I arrive in Santiago. My plan is to mail it to Santiago from Pamplona on the day I arrive. Now if I only knew which Santiago hotel I will be staying at and for how long! So many unknowns--not the least of which are the lessons of the Camino once I actually get there and get started!

God is faithful. I continue to experience a paradoxial peace, amid all the questions and feelings of sadness about leaving, that this is the right thing for me to do right now. So while I do not begin with great joy, I begin with an open heart and a willingness to see where this takes me. My congregation will ask God's blessing upon me this coming Sunday and I ask God to watch over them and guide them during my absence. Those who remain at home will also experience their own Camino journey.

Today is a hard one

We just left the neurosurgeon's office. Rick is scheduled for surgery on September 3rd--he will go into surgery after lights out at the refugio in Spain. It is so very hard to think about not being here but so much has gone into carving out this sabbatical time (thanks to my wonderful congregation, St. James) that I cannot justify staying home. In addition, it is very sad that we will not have time in Spain to enjoy some time together. I didn't realize until this morning how much I had counted on having Rick with me for the Pilgrim's Mass. The blessing of all this is that hopefully he will be fit and painfree when I return in October. It has been a long, hard slog. Many arrangements to make now to be sure that all is well while I am gone.

I also now begin the process of revising my itinerary and completing reservations in France. It is hard to comprehend that two weeks from this hour I will be in Reagan National Airport going through security. With the new domestic regulations, my reservation does not EXACTLY match my government id so I am prepared for some delays but hopefully it will go smoothly.

Some have asked about books they could read about the Camino and the pilgrimage. There really are three: To a Field of Stars by Kevin Codd, My Camino by Sue Kenney, and Walk in a Relaxed Manner by Joyce Rupp.

Are you all ready and prepared?

Now that I am three weeks away from stepping on the plane, people are asking this question. I could have said "yes" but with Rick's back issues, "yes" does not seem to be the appropriate response. He began epidural injections yesterday. We have a meeting with the surgeon next Tuesday to discuss options. Rick still thinks he might be able to make it to Spain. I have serious doubts about that but I guess we'll see. Please keep healing for him in your prayers! Bottomline, either things will go as planned or nothing will go as planned. I am fairly ready for one but not entirely for the other.

I did contact L'Esprit in SJPP, France, and have a reservation and transportation for Wednesday, September 2nd from Pamplona. I must be "in between" lots of beginning pilgrims because the days I am starting were the few open ones for reservations from St. Jean. Do most start on the weekends rather than mid-week? If Rick does not go, I will have more time to walk and will begin from France on Thursday, September 3rd. And it would be a more leisurely trip and I could shorten some of those long mileage days. If he does plan to go (which hopefully I will know BEFORE I leave!), then I will have less time and begin as planned in Spain for arrival in Santiago on October 3rd.

My pack is basically assembled--still with a few last minute decisions to be made. Pack weight is now just below 15 pounds so I am feeling pretty good about that. I have weighed each and every item to the tenth of an ounce so I know exactly what it is. I cannot prepare for all eventualities so layering of clothing is key, as is multiple uses for items taken.

As far as internal preparation, I think I am ready. I am really looking forward to the daily discipline of walking and meditating. Long distance walking is my labyrinth--it is a journey begun with emptying out followed by opening up followed by being surprised by God. There are many twists and turns along the way as I seek the center--and surprise, many of those twists and turns have already begun! To help guide my spiritual reflections, I have my Book of Common Prayer, bible, The Pilgrim's Way (an orthodox spiritual treatise on the Jesus prayer), and other resources on my Kindle (13oz). I will journal daily and update this blog when I am able.

I am slowly allowing myself to get excited about this adventure! Twenty sleeps left!

Frustration and worry setting in

We came to Indiana for what was supposed to be pleasant, relaxing vacation week at our lake house. It has been anything but. Rick's back went out and things have not been good at all. No sleep and discomfort abounds. I haven't been able to get out to walk. A trip to the emergency room confirmed that he is probably not going to Spain and might in fact have to have surgery. He is now able to get around using a walker and heavy drugs but even that is not good. The drive back to Maryland will be long and hard.

This potentially and radically changes the dimensions of the Camino. I have a non-refundable ticket so if Rick does not come, I could spend a more leisurely time on the Camino rather than the mad dash to Santiago -- which would be a good thing. I could actually start in France. We lose the train and plane tickets we've already purchased for travel after the Camino but that is the price you pay, I guess, for getting the early, cheap rates. The fact that he might be having back surgery while I am in Spain is very worrisome. Communication is going to be challenged at best anyway but this could be hard. Hopefully we will have more answers before I climb on the plane September 1st so I know what our options are before I arrive in Spain. Letting go is such hard stuff.......