Walking The Camino

I have just finished reading ‘Camino Sunrise’ by Reginald Spittle, sub-titled ‘Walking With My Shadows: One reluctant pilgrim packs a weighty load on a 500-mile path’. In the book Reg tells the story of how he, together with his wife Sue, having recently retired, made the trip from the USA to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. Though I have never walked any of it, I invariably enjoy books about the ‘Camino’ – and this was no exception. Unlike several books that I have read, this camino pilgrim does not enter the story (and the challenge) from a faith perspective, though it is interesting to see how faith makes its mark. In the end, when asked his reasons for walking, Reg says that it was partly personal, but also partly spiritual. There is no doubt that the experience had a big impact – and that comes through clearly as he reflects on his experiences on the camino and, in particular, Sue and he met and the friends they made. As he writes: “ The Camino wasn’t about getting to Santiago. It wasn’t about the miles we travelled. The journey was about people and the adventures we shared. It was about testing our limits, separately and together.” And there were a few good quotes. For example: “One revelation from this journey had become clear, and it sounded so simple: Nurture friendships with commitment and trust.” “The Camino confirmed another life lesson: “Take time.”” “What else was I taking home? I ticked off a list of lessons. Privacy is overrated. Never assume. Trust people. I am not a sissy. Take time. Never give up. Stay flexible. Pack light. Be patient. Use poles properly (thank you, Gitta). An important one: Don’t take myself so seriously. Have faith in the Camino’s magic. Another came to me: Cultivate friendships.” “There was really just one lesson. Acceptance. I must accept who I am and what I have done. I must live with the actions of others. My fellow pilgrims and I practiced acceptance daily. We persevered through struggles. We appreciated each other and celebrated common bonds as well as differences. We accepted the past, lived in the moment and moved forward.” All in all, a good read.