Thoughts along the Camino

When I was going through the long process of being deemed ready for Ordination by the Board of Ordained Ministry one of the 'getting to know you' games we did was to choose a flower we would most like to be & why. I was living in Bangor, ME at the time & the purple crocuses came up & bloomed in early spring. Then we had a foot of snow. When the snow melted there were the crocus flowers as fresh & perfect as ever.  & so I choose the crocus for its strength & endurance.  On this Camino journey I found a flower with greater resilience & persistence. This little morning glory type flower grows on the side of the road, up through the gravel & even the crumbling pavement. It grows in the clay-like soil just off the side of the road in the 'prairie' region--cold nights & hot relentless sun of the day. It gets run over & stepped on. And yet it continues to thrive in spite of all it has to overcome. It blooms. I have a wooden painted tulip that I keep on the windowsill by the kitchen sink.  On the bottom is written 'bloom where you are planted'. Bloom as you are created to do. Bloom. 

Another thought. When I began this journey I was not in good physical shape & I was many pounds overweight.  I struggled. When I turned 66 I felt old. 

That has changed. I am in much better physical shape all around. I don't feel old anymore. I feel ageless rather than aged. 

Today: May 25. Mostly sunny. Walking through lots of farms & rolling hills 

Only on the Camino. Sitting outside at tables & chairs that lined both sides of the street in front of a busy cafe. The farmer led his cows down the narrow street & the proprietor & her dog had all they could do to keep the cows from veering into the tables. 

Buen Camino!