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Stories from the Way: The Camino Donativo
Reaction to the BBC’s ‘Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago’ has been somewhat mixed amongst those who have completed the journey themselves. Indeed even before it began, more than one friend expressed their concern that such a programme could not possibly do justice to the great and ancient mysteries of the Way. I likewise had concerns, but…
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Poverty and Privilege
Walking the Camino is a privilege. We often use such words flippantly, even if we are showing gratitude, but what does it really mean for something to be a privilege? For the last five weeks I’ve been working this through my head. I am someone who has, at least in relative terms, known both sides…
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The Passage of Time and the Blessing of Hospitality
It is a peculiarity of travel that you can lose sense of the passage of time. Past events can somehow simultaneously seem both recent and distant. So it is with my Camino. I am two thirds of the way through my pilgrimage now, and I can’t seem to work out how or what to feel…
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Hitting Pause
Barely halfway through today’s stage of the Camino, I stopped walking and booked myself into the nearest albergue. My energy levels were good, I had all the right equipment and food, as well as plenty of time to complete the stage, but my joints had decided they had had enough. I am ahead of schedule…
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The Power of Story
Today was a momentous day on the Camino; I am already a third of the way to Santiago de Compostela! As I reflected on the miracle of my legs continuing to work, and my head continuing to let them, I wondered what it was I would remember most when the aches of my muscles had…
Bread and Rosaries 