Have you ever had a desire in your heart that you never believed you could attain? My friend Vicky did.

Vicky

Vicky and I met at daily Mass. One day  after Mass, she approached me and asked if I could pray for a family member; since then we have supported each other in prayer. Trusting Vicky for my personal prayer needs has been a blessing. I had no idea that Vicky was 77 years old; she looks much younger than her age. She and her husband Rick have been married for 56 years. Together they raised  seven children and have 13 grandchildren. Needless to say, she has had a busy and fulfilling life.

Vicky’s father was a high school coach who made sure that his children were fit by making them exercise. Do you remember the term calisthenics? I do, because we seniors used this word to describe working out. Vicky was a runner who ran for years, but due to  back  surgery she switched to racketball to stay fit. Vicky’s daily routine is getting up  at 4:30 a.m. She works out six days a week:  90 minutes of cardio and on other days 40 minutes of weight training. Aside from this routine she walks four miles daily. Perhaps Vicky did not realize that this entire time God was training her to walk the Camino de Santiago.

Stella

Stella and Vicky are lifelong friends. After Stella moved to Northern California they remained friends. In June Vicky received a call from Stella, who was planning to visit her in Orange. Vicky and Stella had dinner together; this is how the “camino” talk started. Stella is 71-years old and has run a marathon in every continent, including Antarctica. Stella, an attorney who recently retired from working for the District Attorney,  was ready for a new adventure. This stirred up great excitement in Vicky. Her husband Rick was quick to encourage the pilgrimage, “Vicky, you have to do this!” Vicky had seven weeks to prepare for the journey.

The Preparation

Vicky stepped up her walking to five miles a day, and  she added a 10-pound backpack to her walks. She had to get the proper gear for the  camino. At REI (a sporting and camping store)  she purchased trail runners (sneakers), hiking sandals and special socks. She took with her a pair of 25-year-old hiking pants and two- year-old sneakers as well. Rick, her husband, purchased a head lamp from Amazon. One small carry-on and the backpack were all she and Stella traveled with their carry-on to the next village. From the beginning of the trip, Vicky requested that she wanted to stay in a hotel. So they used the services of Transporte de mochilas en el Camino de Santiago to transport their carry-on to the next hotel. This service, for a small fee of six Euros, really helped them.

Day One

At the airport no one spoke English, but they needed  to take a taxi to the train station. Finally they met their first angel, a police woman who spoke perfect English who guided them to the train station. They spent their first night at their starting point, the city of Leon, Spain. They attended Mass in Leon and prayed for a good camino. The following day they purchased walking poles and started the camino. Every pilgrim needs poles to help with the walk because sometimes you come across mountainous passages or paths that only one person can traverse one at a time.

They filled their backpacks with protein bars, apples, a first aid kit, pen and notepad, and water, which was the heaviest item to carry. They also had the special book given to them at the beginning of the camino to stamp their passage.

On the camino they met people from all over the world. They met a woman from the Netherlands walking with her Dalmatian. They met a couple from Florida who where half way done with their journey. People from Japan, Australia, Norway, Africa, New Zealand and Canada, all were on their own spiritual journey. All the pilgrims  they met were friendly and cordial.

Time to Reflect

By the third day of the journey Vicky was overwhelmed with gratitude. She wanted a closer relationship with God. She reflected on her life, remembering the special graces and giftings God had given her. With emotional thanksgiving  she praised God for her solid, happy marriage, large family and her faith. At each local church Vicky and Stella lit candles and prayed for family and friends.

After attending a Mass in Triacostela, the local priest asked all the pilgrims to come up for prayer. He handed each one a prayer written in his own language, and asked them to read it aloud. The prayer was a special blessing for their safe camino.

Time to Purge

Remember the 25-year-old hiking pants and the two-year-old sneakers? Vicky decided to get rid of them. She was purging spiritually as well; her soul was being cleansed from things from her past that were holding her down. She felt a great spirit of humility as God was cleansing her every step of the way. Vicky and Stella were up at 6:30 a.m. They needed their head lamps to walk; every morning as they witnessed the gift of the sunrise that led them closer to Santiago.

The purging did not stop on the camino. When Vicky got home she cleaned out her closet and shoes, getting rid of half her wardrobe. The journey changed her.

Santiago de Compostela

Just before 10 a.m. they arrived at the cathedral. Vicky could not hold back her tears; the journey, the desire of her heart, was complete. Vicky and Stella attended the 12 p.m. Mass. I, too,  have attended Mass at Santiago de Compostela.  I remember  the sounds of the bells, the organ piercing  my heart,  the gigantic incense burner swinging across the altar and filling the cathedral with an aromatic,  sweet-smelling cloud, a sacred heavenly scent, that touched all my senses.

El Camino

El Camino de Santiago or “the Way of Saint James” is a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. For most of the pilgrims it is a religious experience. Depending on the route you choose, it could take over 35 days. Vicky and Stella walked 250 miles, averaging a  pace of 15  or more miles per day. They completed  their journey in 15 days.

Saint James

Saint James really understood how to reach the double-minded and those who struggled with trusting God, but my favorite passage is on taming the tongue (James 3:1-11).

My Prayer

Dear Lord, we are all on a camino in life. I pray that it always leads to You. May we hunger and thirst for Your Word. And in our twilight years guide and strengthen us to accomplish all the plans You have for us. Amen.