Day 068v: Receding into the next Refuge … (June 21, 2019)
It was an odd entry into the Lectoure hostel that evening, to say the least – with fellow pilgrims more raucous than reverent, and hospitaleras more stern (almost disapproving, even) than serving. I remained humbly appreciative of the shelter, nonetheless, of course, and maintained an even-keeled faith that my message of selfless Love & bold Kindness (a message relayed by the abbreviated telling of my Walk & its Purpose, no doubt, and yet a message also “told” by my gentle smiles in the face of their frowns, my humble reverence in the face of their piousness, and my selfless service in the face of their demands for conditional labor) would somehow seep into their hearts regardless …
“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.” ~ Orson F. Whitney
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