Camino Gratitude

Walking the Camino de Santiago brings together our humanity and God’s divinity differently than attending mass at church. God uses nature to give a more physical love than I’ve ever experienced, to draw more deeply into relationship. I easily recognized God’s love through beauty in all my senses, walking under billions of stars, seeing shades of red and orange at sunrise, listening to hundreds of birds each morning, feeling a slight breeze on my face, smelling flowers and farms – I firmly believe God’s creation is a show of love to us. God’s intent and desire is to develop and inspire a stronger, more loving relationship between Jesus, neighbor, and self. I met people from all over the world, each with stories to share, some heart breaking, and some inspiring. My 9 lessons learned on Camino –

1. Divinity -“If we are cut off from divine energy, we allow ourselves to be influenced by what other people think. Instead of accepting ourselves as we are, we try to imitate what we see around us. We try to be what other people think, our soul fades, our will weakens, and all the potential we had to make the world a beautiful place withers away. But, if we resist the temptation to allow other people to define who we are, then we will gradually be able to let the sun inside our soul.” Paolo Coehlo

2. Generous – “Our willingness to be generous is shaping how others give, forgive, and invest in one another. Social connection is the greatest predictor of thriving, emotional well-being and optimism. Our ecosystem will have a profound impact on how charitable and moral we are. The heart of religion is loving others.” Shawn Achor

3. Habits – Happiness and joy requires a good routine and holy people, avoiding disturbance of interior peace. Ask God to guide you each day in being charitable to others and to accept every moment as a blessing.

4. Happiness – “Happiness comes at a cost, we must discover who we are and what we are called to do with our lives. Aristotle says happiness is about doing something to make the world a better place. What fills the heart with happiness is not what we get from the world, it’s what we put into the world.” Joan Chittister

5. Love – “The truth is that love is the ultimate and highest goal to which man can aspire. The salvation of man is through love and in love. Love finds its deepest meaning in his spiritual being, his inner self. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being unless he loves him, to see the traits, features, and potential in the beloved person. The meaning of life is to help others find the meaning of theirs.” Viktor Frankl

6. Prayer – repeat “God come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me” to focus your soul and mind. Walking activates our thoughts, as God fills us with prayer, listen silently and respond with awareness. St Augustine wrote “our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.”

7. Self awareness – “If you are never alone, you cannot know yourself. When you become present, your actions become charged with spiritual power. Joy does not come from what you do, it flows into what you do and thus into this world from deep within you.” Paulo Coelho

8. Silence – “Silence allows man to be led by God. At the heart of man there is an innate silence, for God abides in the innermost part of every person. The humblest, meekest, and most silent of all beings is God. Silence is the only means by which to enter this great mystery of God.” Cardinal Sarah

9. Time – Live as though you’re running out of time; serve and love the suffering now. “People don’t know what they are striving for, they exhaust themselves in the senseless pursuit of material things and die without realising their spiritual wealth. God is involved in every life. Our spiritual basis is key to our understanding life. Love without the spiritual side is not love. The Creator constantly participates in our daily life granting us the energy of existence. The goal of man’s existence is not happiness but spiritual growth.” Joseph Pearce

Camino video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvqBBb1pas4