Day 064l: A most disciplined Denial .. (06/17/2019)
Little “serve yourself” stands like this one weren’t very common in France along The Way, and yet they did pop up from time to time. And at very few times on my Walk was I more thankful to see one pop up than I was today … It was an extremely hot & dusty day of walking, and I was feeling more hungry and thirsty than usual when I rounded the bend and saw its table and chairs and coolers in the shade of the large tree pictured, and I was admittedly excited about the prospect of it being a true donativo stand – namely, one where the refreshments were offered to passing pilgrims at no cost (a deliciously generous gesture that proved to be more & more frequently given the closer I got to Santiago) … Unfortunately, even though the stand was indeed run on the “honor system”, all the items present (even the small bottles of water) were individually priced. And so it was that this mendicant pilgrim stayed true to his mission — leaving the refreshment behind to walk on just as hungry & thirsty as before … :O
“Listen with compassion.
Speak with honesty.
Act with integrity.
Walk with resolve.”
~ inspired by Roy T. Bennett
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