Day 062o: Arriving at the Miracle … (06/15/2019)
And so it was that the day grew longer and the daylight ever shorter … And so it was that my legs began to drag along the path and my shoulders began to droop in their sockets and I started looking for anyplace – truly anyplace – where I thought I might be able to lay down and know any semblance of shelter for the night … And yet no such refuge was given – and so on & on I trudged.
And then my spirits were immeasurably lifted as I crested a small hill and saw a roadside sign pointing me towards “Gite Mas la Jantille” (translation = “more than nice”, I think), as it turned out to be the only building in the entire “town” of St. Jean du Laur … :O
Considering the uber-ruralness of the region in which it rested, I was deeply surprised by the extremely well-kempt (if not downright chic) aura the premises exuded as I slowly limp-hobbled up to the door. It was almost 7pm by the time I arrived, and I was in a decidedly unkempt (and quite smelly) state myself when I ambled up and knocked on the door – not at all sure that I would be received by this well-to-do homestead, and already mentally preparing myself for being turned away.
And yet that is when the miracle occurred, for not only did Colette (the proprietress of the place) welcome me in with open arms, but my dear friends Cindy & Mike were already there as well ( :O ), and the reunion we shared was a Joy-fully tearful one indeed … 🙂 … To make matters even more phenomenal, it turns out that the other two pilgrims present – Gunther and Kazuhiko – were from Weilimdorf (the same village where I used to live in Germany) and Osaka (very near to where I was blessed with a 1985 student-exchange in japan) respectively … :O
Almost needless to say, the evening we all shared there was absolutely magical – one of the true highlights of my entire Walk, and one for which I will be forever especially grateful … 😀 😀 😀
“Shallow men believe in luck or fate, and thus blame their misfortunes on others or predestined happenstance. Wise men, on the other hand, deeply comprehend the law of cause & effect, and as such accept that every situation is a result of choices previously made. Of course, these men also understand the power of choice – and as such know full well that, regardless of their particular place or circumstance, it is they and they alone who steer the measure of their Peace therein.” ~ inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson
P.S. Though not nearly as Important as the fellowship and the Love shared that night with my fellow pilgrims, this was the meal with which I was blessed — one of my favorites: pasta (left in the kitchen by a previous pilgrim) + sea salt + olive oil & a glass of red wine* (offered by Gunther & Kazuhiko) … 🙂
*NOTE that I don’t really imbibe alcohol at all during my everyday, non-pilgrimage life, and that I very rarely drank any on this particular Walk as well. And yet the few times alcohol was offered, I gratefully accepted those gifts — not so much for the mellow taste (though this wine WAS particularly tasty) as for its painkilling properties … 😉
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