Change

When I first entered the Sisters of Mercy, Sr. Mary George, in charge of us Postulants, used to always say around visiting day that it was not a compliment if someone in our family told us "You haven't changed a bit." I remember that well, because I cringed when someone in my family said that exact thing when they came for the first visiting day! I'm hoping it was because they were happy I hadn't changed in a negative way (maybe they thought I would become "holier than thou" or a "holy roller" or - worse still - "very serious"!!!).

Today I read in The Practical Sayings of Catherine McAuley:
"Even our nearest and dearest friends expect to find a change in us after we have embraced this state of life: they look for something different from themselves. Let us never give them cause to say, "she is not in the least changed; she is just the same as she was in the world."

From all I've read about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, change happens! I'll be interested in seeing what shape these changes take in my life.

Short, Careful Steps

Venerable Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy was a woman of prayer and of deep faith. Her philosophy was “Let us take one day only in the hands at a time, merely making a resolve for tomorrow. Thus we may hope to go on, taking short, careful steps, not great strides … Each day is a step we take towards Eternity … The final step will bring us into the presence of God." I want to reflect on this as I walk each day in preparation for the Camino.

Pilgrim

What is a pilgrim? The dictionary gives one definition as "one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a devotee." It doesn't say how the person travels. In some of the books I've been reading about personal experiences along the Camino de Santiago, I've noticed that there's a kind of "elitist" attitude among some of the pilgrims who walk the entire way (500 miles or so) towards those who do only part of the Camino, or those who do it the "easy" way: having their backpacks carried for them by car. But all of these people can truly be considered pilgrims, regardless of how they travel. Yes, a pilgrim can be one who takes a train to a shrine or holy place as a devotee. I'd like to offer my condolences to all the pilgrims who were aboard the fated train heading to Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday for the Feast of St. James, July 25th.

Detour

This afternoon, Sr. Theresina and I visited my brother Robert who is in the hospital recovering from hip surgery. On the way home we ran into stand-still traffic on Route 22, so I pressed the "Detour" sign on my GPS and it rerouted us to Route 28 through Westfield.

Last night I was disappointed not to hear the jazz musicians who usually play on various corners throughout Westfield each Tuesday evening in the summer. I thought perhaps the performances had been cancelled due to the threat of rain. However, that didn't prevent me from enjoying a Gelato at The Chocolate Bar!

This evening, as we made our way down Route 28 I heard.... MUSIC! JAZZ! What a surprise! I rolled down the window and asked a passer-by what was going on. He said there had been a Marathon. That explained the blocked-off streets - and perhaps the music. I know I take after my mother who always loved to be where the action was! I thrilled to see so many people enjoying a stroll down the streets and eating outside some of the restaurants. I am so grateful for that detour!

I wonder how many surprising detours I'll experience on the Camino. I hope my spirit of adventure and love of serendipity will help me keep a positive attitude when the detours, in whatever shape they reveal themselves, take me down different pathways.

The "one thing necessary"

This morning I put on my hiking boots and became the casual walker. Unlike yesterday, I decided to take a more leisurely walk around the path at Tamaques Park. As I walked I said my usual Rosary and swatted at those pesky insects that seem to be fascinated by my face! As I strove to be recollected in the midst of a couple of bikes racing by, a woman shouting out commands to an exercising group, and those ever-companioning flying distractors, I was reminded of something Venerable Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, wrote: "our hearts can always be in the same place, centered in God, for whom alone we go forward or stay back."

"For whom alone" -- the "one thing necessary" as stated in yesterday's Gospel on Martha and Mary. I started to reflect on just why I was getting up so early to walk. What is the bottom line? Certainly not exercise... not this time, anyway - although the result is my getting exercise. I'm getting up to get my body in shape so I can walk 10 - 15 miles a day for 9 - 10 days. Again: why? I was invited. Not good enough. Why? I want to do the Camino. Again.... not good enough. Why? What's the bottom line? What is the "one thing necessary" in this case? Bottom line: I want to be able to walk the Camino in order to draw closer to God, for whom alone I go forward or stay back. My relationship with God is the "one thing necessary."

Attunement

Early this morning - 5:49 to 6:46 a.m., to be exact - I did a 4-mile power-walk. What did I notice this time? The park took on a ghostlike appearance with the mist settled on much of the grassy areas. Flying insects accompanied me 90% of the time, but they were no match for my pumping arms and swatting hands! I was met at the end with many kisses - from a Miniature Greyhound. Precious! But the thing I noticed the most was the terrain. To the casual walker, the park is extremely flat. But to the power-walker, the jogger, the man with crutches... the slightest incline is felt dramatically. I actually found myself jogging a bit on a downhill. The uphill, on the other hand, took so much more energy and determination to keep up to speed. Just as I was so attuned to the topography, I'd like to be that attuned to God's presence and actions in my life.

Pray While Walking

Well, here's something I've heard a lot this past week: It's HOT! This morning, despite the heat, I walked 4 miles around the track at Tamaques Park - the longest I've done since my Marathon days 20 years ago. I've a long way to go to be prepared to walk 10 to 15 miles a day, but back in February when I was just starting out, doing 4 miles would have left me sore for days.

I enjoy saying a Rosary each time I walk, too. There are so many people who have asked for my/our prayers, and the peaceful time I have while I walk affords me the opportunity to pray without much distraction.

I don't have any special reflections to offer, but if anyone who reads my blogs would like me to pray for your special intentions, let me know!

Just Enough

Yesterday morning I walked for an hour and 20 minutes through the development where I was staying, and over to another area that has a marina and a lovely gravel pathway near the bay. I didn't want to get lost, so I took special note of the street signs and had to laugh at a couple of them. I've often wondered who gets to name the streets and why do they choose those particular names. Bodys Neck??? Golden Eye??? They're two of the strangest I've ever heard!

Passing by the marina, I also checked out the names of some of the boats, and one especially caught my eye: Just Enough. That got me reflecting on what is just enough?

Do I have just enough? Hardly! I've been blessed with a super-abundance of almost everything! I grew up at the Jersey Shore where we never went on vacation: we lived in a vacation town. I attended wonderful Catholic grade and high schools and got a better than enough education. My vocation as a Sister of Mercy has afforded me many opportunities for enrichments beyond my wildest dreams. I have more than enough good nourishing food and a great variety to boot.

During my walk, I received a call from Sisters Theresina and Eileen. Eileen’s brother Jim had just died and they wanted to let me know. Then I started to think about enough time. Jim was “only” 58 years old. Did he have enough time on this earth? And what about Jesus? He was “only” 33. Think of all the people he could have influenced had he lived longer. God must have thought his time on earth was just enough.

This reminds me of a poem by Bob Perks:

"I Wish You Enough!®"
Bob Perks
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

Expect "Travails"

I was delighted to read in The Best Way: El Camino de Santiago by Bill Walker:

"... the word travel is derived from the word 'travails', which connotes beleagurement.... Modern tourism so often seems to be all about destination. One can often subtly hear the frustrations of travelers who return from their long journeys. Deep in their sub-conscious seems to be the subtle occurrence, "Is that all?" The hope of the sublime, life-changing encounters somewhere along the road usually proves elusive. Pilgrimages, however, are much more about transformation... It is this innate human desire for the deeply real, I believe, that is what has made pilgrimages so popular throughout the ages. On the Camino everybody walks an average of 15 or 16 miles, day after day. Pilgrims sleep in compact bunkrooms full of 100 or more strangers, not exactly the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Queueing up for showers, tooilet use, and laundry machines are part of the drill. Even without trying, a person is forced out of their comfort zone. It feel real."

Familiar Words Take on a New Meaning

Our friends Joan and John had quite a time at the airport when they were returning from vacation. The details would be too numerous to tell here, but suffice it to say that in recounting their experiences of a cancelled flight due to weather, run-in with the agricultural "police", power-failure in the one hotel that wasn't filled to capacity, delay on the runway... I came vicariously to experience in a new way just some of the inconveniences and worries associated with the simple announcement we often hear on the news: All flights are cancelled due to inclement weather. I've seen pictures of people sleeping in the airport and being interviewed, but until Joan described her harrowing experiences, I never appreciated fully the impact of that simple statement.

The other morning when we were praying with our Sisters of Mercy Prayer Book, a word I've read many times "came alive" for me: pilgrimage. The Intercessions began: Our God shares the fullness of our humanity, and calls us to honor and care for all those who share the joys and sorrows of our human pilgrimage. We pray this morning for our companions on the journey...

And then this morning at Mass, Jesus instructed the Apostles in the Gospel: Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick.

Anticipating a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, that word "pilgrimage" has taken on a whole new meaning with many new awarenesses. I've been thinking of what I need to bring on this long hike through Galicia, and "money, a sack, a second tunic, sandals, and a walking stick" would closely describe my perceived needs! I really couldn't imagine going to the next town or village and relying totally on the hospitality of the local residents. Of course, that's not what I'm called to do on this particular pilgrimage. But just anticipating and preparing for it has made my appreciation for this Gospel reading so much more acute.

Sounds of Silence

This morning, on my way to a golf course-turned-park, I heard a portion of WNYC's program, On Being, in which Krista Tippett interviewed Gorden Hempton, an acoustic ecologist. (You can hear the entire interview online.) He observed that our eyes have lids so that we can close out sight, but that our ears do not have any flaps to close out sound - because sound, more than sight, is necessary for survival. At one point, he described in detail each sound he heard. That inspired me to focus on my hearing as I walked along the paths. The quiet afforded me the ability to notice the rhythmic slapping of my sneakers as they hit the blacktop. I recognized the calls of mocking birds, mourning doves, crows and crickets. The breeze rustled through both leafy and needled trees. The sounds of nature were joined by the rumble of an occasional freight train, the distant roar of a plane, and the greetings of others who passed in the opposite direction. I realized as I attended to all these sounds, that I was  in the habit of noticing with my eyes, but not with my ears. That program was such a gift to me! I'll be more attentive to listening as I train for the Camino.

Who's Inspiring Whom?

This evening I decided to walk three times around the .8 track at Tamaques Park. On the way, I realized I had on my jeans - not a good option for walking, especially in this heat. As I pulled into the park, however, any thought of my anticipated discomfort evaporated as I witnessed a man on crutches slowly - very slowly - making his way around the track. His foot/leg was in a cast. What an inspiration! I parked the car in the last parking lot, and began my treck with a definite spring in my step. If he can do it under those circumstances, I certainly can! When I caught up to him, I had to tell him what an inspiration he was to me. He expressed his own appreciation, saying that that gave him encouragement to keep on going. We chatted for a moment, and then I took off at my usual quick pace. I worried about him, though. He had been perspiring profusely, and wasn't carrying any water with him. Besides that, his car was on the opposite side of the track. Just then, I noticed the ice cream truck parked in one of the lots. An idea! So I cut through to my car and grabbed some money to buy some water - which the vendor didn't have - and settled for some Italian ice. I made my way back to him and found out he's diabetic! He also told me he never drank water - even before his accident - while he was exercising. Well, the conversation just kept going. We made our way slowly - very slowly - around the track. I told him about my escapades of the past: The Longest Day (I did a double metric century) and the NYC Marathon (walking it; I can't run!). I also told him about my anticipated pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago. He told me that I was an inspiration to him! His determination, though, as far as I was concerned, far outweighed any accomplishments I had done or hoped to do. Even as we neared the end point, he insisted on making it to the rock, because that's where he started from, saying the walk to and from his car didn't count!!! Just who's inspiring whom?!

Hospitality

As Kevin Codd made his pilgrimage along the Camino, he experienced a very inhospitable situation in probably one of the most luxurious refugios he had encountered. It's a reminder to all of us of what the human spirit really longs for.

"...none of us care that much about the marble floors and firm mattresses of this refugio. After five or six days on the road, what we care about is care. Hospitality counts for everything; appearances for nothing. I hope I can hold onto this obvious life lesson once I return to the big world where shine and newness so often trump humility and kindness." - To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim's Journey to Santiago de Compostela (Kevin A. Codd)

Blessed

Today I'm quoting from The Camino Will Provide: Learning to Trust the Universe by David O'Brien:
"So much in my life I take for granted. Rarely do I fear for my safety. I have never known hunger or thirst. Not many signs restrict my movements. I can read and write. Why was I given so much?"
I am so blessed, and my response is gratitude!

The Journey's the Thing

This morning, Sr. Rosemary and I were marveling at the fact that it's already July 1st. We've been preparing for several months for our Golden Jubilee celebration in September. Fifty years as Sisters of Mercy! Wow! We still have a number of loose ends to tie up, and the days are flying by quickly. 




Having just celebrated with my St. Rose High School, Class of '63, however, I know that all those preparations took a lot longer than the actual events themselves. The weekend that we were so looking forward to came and went - almost in a flash! It's already a pleasant memory.


Then I thought of the Camino. I'm giving it a whole year of preparations: increasing the distances in walking, getting used to walking with a backpack, reading books and studying maps, trying to make wise purchases, talking with my sister and niece (future Camino-buddies) and people who have made the pilgrimage.... and.... What if I never get to make it after all?! What if, after all those preparations, something happens and I/we don't go in the end?!!! Would it all have been a waste of time?


I think not. I regard this whole year as part of the journey/the pilgrimage, and found two quotations that express this perfectly:

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination. – Don Williams, Jr. (American Novelist and Poet)

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. – Greg Anderson