Day 076r: A full-tilt of Fellowship … (June 29, 2019)
It is indeed possible that Ostabat’s close proximity to St. Jean Pied du Port – the final destination for most of the pilgrims who were walking this particular stretch of The Way – made everyone a bit more jovial on this day, and yet it was equally possible that the released rigors and transcended challenges of many recent days of faithful treading had simply allowed my current “pilgrim family” to more easily reveal their true, hyper-caring Selves. Either way, a more heartfelt fellowship was clearly present here in Ostabat – from the warm kindness of hostess Mirentxu in the hostel’s bar to the inspired conversation I shared with fellow pilgrim Katrin in the street to the selfless generosity of Stephane (who without pause organized a place for Renee from the Netherlands to spend the night in a neighboring village – seeing as how all the beds in Ostabat had been long-since booked) to the beautiful kindness of Renee himself (who heard about my Walk and immediately offered to treat me to a vegan sandwich. The potential Goodness of Humanity was in truth overflowing here on this day, and I felt immensely Peace-full watching the same unfold …
“Most people have forgotten nowadays what a welcoming house can truly mean, though some of us have come to realize it as never before. Such havens of generosity become kingdoms of their own in the midst of the world’s lunacies – strongholds of kindness amidst life’s still-raging storms of greed and cold-heartedness.” ~ via Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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