Walking in the direction of the (ultimately nonexistent) donativo hostel mentioned by the callously dismissive Maison des Pelerins manager, I did come across the offices of the local Catholic services. Frustratingly, they were already closed for the night, and things were really starting to look pretty grim as the day steadily progressed into early evening (I was not at all fond of the idea of trying to sleep out in the open that night, and my body was even less fond of the idea of walking even further that day). I was at a full loss as to what to do, and was earnestly considering simply walking out of town along The Way (and looking for any secluded bench I might find on the outskirts of town), when I heard a trio of locals laughing merrily on the front porch across the street. With nothing to lose (and possibly intuitively/limbically sending the good-heartedness in their joviality), I greeted them, told them of my Walk’s mission and my current predicament, and asked them if they knew of any place in town that might put up a mendicant pilgrim for the night. They were all amazed that I had walked so far for Peace already, and were all equally sympathetic to my current plight, and what was a blessedly friendly and lovely conversation ended with one of the three, Polo (pictured below in his car), offering to drive me to a potential sleep-over …

“Even when light fades and darkness falls – as it does so often in our lives; as indeed it does every single day – God does not turn the world over to some other less-Loving entity. For here is the truest testimony of faith: that darkness is not dark to God; that to him – and potentially even ti each of us – the night is always as bright as the day.” ~ inspired by Barbara Brown Taylor

Filed under: Peace Pilgrimage #02: Walking HOME (2019) by Scaughdt