Entering into our 11th day of walking, we can feel the rhythm of our walking shift. The girls are more apt to slow down and we are learning the rhythms of each other’s strides and styles. For some this means having time to chat along the way, while for others it is a savoring of quiet as we move from town to town. There is no “right” way to walk, we simply try to respect each other’s rhythms and invite each other to walk together along the way.
Today part of that comradery came in the form of celebration. First and foremost, this meant feting one of our chaperones, whose birthday was today. From a rousing (if off- key) rendition of Happy Birthday as we prepared to begin our walk to a celebratory pizza party on the Way, complete with candles in ice cream cake and surprise noisemakers to punctuate our encore singing- we made sure she felt the love of having her with us in this special day.
As for our walking, we modified our plan to provide a bit of respite to our weary travelers. This meant taking a portion of the trek by bus, a mercy in the midst of very full days and quite sore feet. This meant that we walked from Palas de Rei to Melide (famous for its pulpo (octopus)), where we had our pizza and then a ride to Arzúa, where we are spending the night.
The path today offered beautiful stretches of eucalyptus groves, the scent of pine trees, and gradual inclines and declines along the way. In adjusting to the rhythm of the way (and accounting for the ease some transportation provides) our group took our time walking, meeting new and old pilgrim friends along the way and savoring simple pleasures (like gelato).
In keeping with the celebratory spirit, the students appeared at one point with red and yellow face paint to mark Spain’s win in their World Cup match last night. At Mass tonight, they reveled in the joy of the Pilgrim Blessing bestowed on us (including a sprinkling with holy water) by the parish priest in Arzúa. Then after dinner we found ourselves amid a concert in the main town plaza– complete with cultural costumes, traditional music, and lots of cheer and dancing!
These celebrations certainly lift the spirit and give us all a taste of the vibrant life of the Spanish people. As the blessing at Mass tonight (all in Spanish) asked for us: may we be strengthened with faith and gifted with perseverance. With Santiago on the horizon (only two days away), we remain mindful of the ways God is celebrating with us on the journey and how the Holy Spirit is transforming us within the rhythm of our days. Our prayer, in turn, is to remain open to what is happening in us and around us… that we might rejoice in the graces we receive and remain open to those that continue to be offered.
