Knowing When to Stop

Today I walked a little over 13 miles to La Romieu, where pilgrims have journeyed for centuries. Beautiful fields of bright yellow sunflowers today and a few forests to pass through. Lots of hunting preserves posted. I tried to make fewer stops and I wasted no time off the path. Had a few nice talks with fellow pilgrims. A 26-year-old man from Montpellier and two older gentlemen from La Rochelle. One of them had walked all the way ftom Le Puy en Velay to Santiago twice. Now he is ill and walking very slowly. His friend explained all this to me as we walked ahead for a while. (My pace seemed to impress him and a few others; I explained I need to walk fast when I can: mornings and on the flat.) He said their wives would meet them at Romieu later with the car. That’s all they can do these days: short stretches. He wished me well and went back to walk with his friend.

Being alone most of today wasn’t hard, mostly because I had decided to stop at 13 miles rather than doing another 21-mile day. That helped me enjoy every view and push myself up every hill – with the help of my walking poles. But being goal oriented isn’t really bring a pilgrim. We are to be open to whatever we encounter on the way. We are to feel Christ’s presence with us in our hardships and in our meetings with others. It was a good day for many reasons, but knowing when to stop was my lesson. I knew it was right for me and I did it! And I enjoyed my day more.

A pilgrimage symbolizes life, to quote from my Pilgrim’s guide, written by Saint Jean-Paul II, pope and pilgrim. We confront the challenges of the path, and first of all, our fragility. But we persevere. Jesus is our way, because he is in every aspect of our journey, if we are open to Him. I’m waxing faith-filled again, but that can happen here. My walk today was beautiful and more inspiring than the majestic Collégiale, that dominated Le Romieu. I just realized it is Sunday. And even though I didn’t worship formally anywhere, I did worship.