Day 39a: How to Walk on Water … (05/23/2019)
I woke up early this morning and felt fantastic about my decision to flow onward before anyone at the hostel had the chance to “pity offer” me any breakfast sustenance. If Judit had wanted, she could have brought me back a few snacks from her “amazingly inexpensive” grocery run the night before.* If Denise had wanted, she could have rescinded her no-food-from-me edict and offered me some calories for the road.** If Juergen & Jennifer had wanted, they could have easily told me to join them for breakfast before heading out.*** And if Michael had wanted, he could have easily offered to treat me to the same.**** None of them did, of course, and this was completely OK by me — I am not here to be served, but to serve. I am not here to receive, but to give. I am not here to be provided for, but to provide. And so it was that I thanked Denise profusely for last night’s bed, wished my fellow pilgrims a beautiful Camino, and then headed smoothly back out onto The Way — knowing that this same Way would either provide food for me in times of real need, or I would simply keep walking “on water” and water alone. Either way is equally find by me, and either way I will continue faithfully upon my Walk for Peace … 😀
“The path of the compassionate shines like the light of dawn, and is a way that glows ever brighter until each day’s end.” ~ unknown (Proverbs 4:18)
*Judit later passed me on The Road, originally pausing just long enough to condescendingly barb “So, I guess you are already looking for food, right?” I smiled upon hearing the same, and calmly explained to her (yet again) that I never “look for food” while Walking; that I simply accept whatever is freely offered me and fast if nothing is offered. To her credit, she finally “got it” after I said the same, and hastily — almost embarrassingly — asked if I wanted some of her bread. I told her that what I might want is completely irrelevant; that the only thing that matters is whatever she might want to give. She smiled at this response, gave me some bread, wished me well, and walked on … 🙂
**I spent more than few minutes making Denise a beautifully inscribed “Peace Stone” that I gave her that morning just before my departure. It was wonderful to see how effective such a gift obviously was. She knew in her heart of hearts that she hadn’t given much to me the night before and as such didn’t “deserve” the honor I had bestowed upon her — all the more reason to Give to her, that she might soon thereafter remember that we are here to offer what we can, not reap what we might; and that she might treat the next mendicant pilgrim accordingly … 😉
***Juergen & Jennifer had already given me soooo much on the Journey, and it was a special gift from me to keep my distance over the next several days — to not allow their unfettered feelings of generosity to devolve into feelings of pity or obligation … 😉
****It didn’t take long for Michael to “get it”, as the last chapter of this same day’s tale will soon tell … 🙂
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