Day 069r: Reveling in a repeat Reunion … (June 22, 2019)
Today had been one of the very few days where I had established a specific goal before setting out – in its case making it to the town of Condom by 2pm in order to hopefully meet back up with Mike & Cindy for the final time before they were flowed fully out of reach (Mike because he was simply an extremely fast walker who had established pilgrimage distance-goals would at that point fully outstrip my pace, and Cindy because she was heading home that day – with Condom being the final stop on this year’s pilgrimage for her). I had started earlier than usual that morning and had made good time throughout the day, and yet 30+ kilometers is still 30+ kilometers, and it was a few minutes after 2pm when I made it to town. I picked up my pace as I approached the center of the city, and at first thought I had missed out on our wished for farewell reunion. And yet no sooner did I shrug my shoulders and submit to the apparent fact that I had not arrived soon enough than I heard a loud “Scaughdt!”, and turned to see a tearful Cindy rushing over to greet me. Cindy & Mike (the latter of whom had not been able to wait any longer before heading onward – having already planned to walk may more kilometers before that day’s end) were two of the pilgrims with whom I bonded the closest on the Walk, and I was exceedingly grateful to be able to sit with Cindy awhile and – in very broken French – exchange warm words of gratitude (for the past) & encouragement (for the future) with her in person. She then gave me a card she had bought for me in town and a four-leaf clover she had been carrying for me as well, and we hugged one last time before we said our final Goodbyes and I watched her walk to the edge of the courtyard and finally disappear from view …
“Perhaps the most important thing we bring to another person is the silence within us; not the sort of silence that is filled with unspoken criticisms or hard withdrawals, but rather the sort of silence that is a place of refuge and rest – a place of complete acceptance of the other just as they truly are. We are all hungry for this other kind of silence, and it is often hard to find. And it is as priceless as it is rare, for in its presence we can remember something beyond the moment, a strength on which to rebuild a self and build a life.” ~ Rachel Naomi Remen
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