Day 097u: Dismissed as well in the Stables … (July 20, 2019)
I made my way around the back of the monastery to the municipal albergue located at its back. For whatever reason I was certain that this was to be a place of solace and honor – the former for my weary feet & tired Soul, and the latter for my message of Love & Peace. And yet what I received upon entering was purely the opposite – a gaggle of fellow pilgrims leering at me suspiciously, and a head hospitalero (Manuel) who was openly condescending (almost to the point of being directly insulting) towards both me and even my mission. To my small credit, I remained kind despite the stark unpleasantness of this hardhearted surprise and offered to walk onward if my presence was going to inspire more of such consternation. Obviously taken aback by the gentle grace with which I received his rejection, Manuel softened almost immediately and offered me a bed for the night (though only after admonishing me to “keep the place clean”) … And so it was that I gratefully showered and just as gratefully received my hunk of pilgrim’s bread for supper (the latter of which being practically thrown at me with a sneer after I had politely mentioned that I don’t consume any of my animal friends). The bread having been eaten, I engaged Manuel with a far more open-hearted chat about the hows & whys of my Walk. I tried thereafter to sit down and write a bit, and yet I was so tired that I ended up falling asleep twice “at the pen” — so off to an early 6pm bed I went and quickly fell into a deeply peaceful & delightfully prolonged slumber …
“He didn’t really care how he looked to other people, because the love of his Life & Way had made him Real, and once you become Real external shabbiness no longer matters.” ~ via Margery W. Bianco
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