Clay in the Hands

Trying to keep up with posting daily has proven to be a challenge. The days have been long and by the time I get to my albergue, shower, do laundry and then try to find something to eat, there is not a lot of mental capacity to offer much here.

I am sitting in an albergue in Lugo at the end of day 9. I am now within 100 kilometers of Santiago de Compostela.

So much has been stirring in me over the last couple of days. I have had some really interesting conversations with several people – many involving faith. It has been interesting when I sit down at a table with a couple of people I have seen but not talked to and the first thing they ask is, “you’re a pastor, right?” I guess the word has gotten out.

One of the amazing people I have met and had great conversations with is Katy. She has walked different Camino routes in the past, as well as 12 marathons around the world last year! I met her on day 4 and our paths have continued to cross over the last week. Today, she made a shorter walk and so yesterday was “good-bye,” as she will enter Santiago a day or two after me now.

But in our first conversation, we shared why we are doing the Camino. She has experienced significant loss over the past few years and just needed space to grieve and heal.

The reason I mention Katy is that she did something for me that brought tears to my eyes – and still does, days later as I write this.

In our first conversation, I asked her about the shell on her backpack. I knew about the shell as a symbol of the Camino and had planned to buy one as soon as I could, once arriving in Spain. But I still have not seen a place to buy them.

Casey explained that they are available in different places, but mainly in Santiago de Compostela at the Cathedral at the end of the walk. Then she went on to explain that hers was a gift and that very often, the pilgrim receives a shell as a gift from a fellow pilgrim who has made the pilgrimage before.

I decided that evening I would buy several when I get to Santiago – one for myself and others to give to people as encouragement to make a walk at some point in their lives.

The next day, was a hard day. I flopped down in front of a chapel in the middle of the day to eat a snack and rest. Katy was there but was getting ready to leave and head on. As she bent over her backpack, before putting it on, I assumed she was adjusting it.

But the next thing I knew, she was handing me her shell! I stood up to give her a hug and began to tear up. She said, “I should have given this to you last night. This is a gift.”

And what a gift! Part of the Camino is helping out other people along the Way. Often that comes as advice and help that from those further down the Way.

Katy has walked the Way several times and this was her way of encouraging me and pulling me along. What a beautiful, cherished gesture – one I will never forget.

This is an illustration of our walk in the Way with Jesus. As you have heard me say, time and time again, the Way is how people described following Jesus in the beginning. Jesus is The Way. So as a follower in the Way, who do you need to encourage today?

Each of us are on this journey to become more like Jesus but each of us are at different stages. We all need help and encouragement from those farther down the path. But we also must turn and offer help and encouragement to those not quite as far along as we are.

Who will you help along the Way today?