Day 43a: What it means to Be Kind … (05/27/2019)
Despite the fact that Line never did get fully “on board” with the Peace-full part of my pilgrimage*, I will always be grateful to her — not only for taking me in so seamlessly after yesterday’s tiring day of walking, but also for introducing me to one of my very favorite French customs: breakfast coffee served in a bowl (and thereby served BIG) … 😀
“True generosity is doing something kind for someone who will never find out, and true Kindness is doing something generous in those moments we least wish to do so — either because our sacrifice cannot be in any way reciprocated, or because the recipient thereof in no way deserves or merits the same.” ~ inspired by Frank A. Clark
*Line was the first person I met on my Walk who had become openly jaded in response to the many “faux-mendicants” she had encountered over the years — pilgrims who were not earnestly Walking The Way for a higher purpose or in a traditionally pure manner, but rather who were simply claiming to have no money in order to experience Europe “on the cheap” … Yes, it is true that this is a common challenge faced by hostel owners and donativo mangers along the Camino (one that became more & more prevalent the closer I got to Santiago), and yet the fact remains that anger and frustration and irritation and sadness are NOT the proper way to transcend the same. After all, those pilgrims who are seemingly manipulating Camino servants for their own financial advantage are obviously those also most in need of the same generosity they are striving to con or coerce, AND withholding the same not only inspires those same manipulators to more fervently seek to obtain the same from others along The Way, but also precludes the jaded (like Line) from feeling the abject Joy and profound Peace that comes from helping all the authentic Peace Pilgrims he or she meets in more sincere encounters. In essence, Line was being reasonable in berating me for “mooching” from donativo hostels along The Way during my pilgrimage, and yet assuming the same denied her two far greater benefits from two far greater Truths: 01) that it is precisely those who deserve our Kindness the least who actually need it the most, and 02) that I myself was not in any way or shape or form the “con man” she assumed I was; that I was in fact an earnest Peace Pilgrim — in truth not having any money whatsoever to my name, and walking The Way not at all for myself, but solely for the benefit of humanity — solely, indeed, for the benefit of her & hers! 😉
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