This was such a lovely moment that I shared with fellow pilgrim Angelika – not only for the simple fact that it was so obviously a humble recognition on both our parts of the innate majesty of life and the inherent power of the Camino (and all walks like it) and the profound Connection that all sentient travelers share, but also for the psychological/spiritual breakthrough it evidenced. For just one day prior, Angelika had quite openly (and to her credit quite gently) scorned my Walk; had quite openly rejected the notion that I was walking the way I was walking, much less that I was doing so for any tangible Higher Good. And yet here I found her, sitting on a bench just outside the church, smiling at me with such genuine warm and well-regard that I couldn’t help but offer her a similar honor in return … Walk well, my dear Sister – for the rest of your pilgrimage, and indeed for the rest of your life, walk well!

“Never surrender your visions and dreams to the fateful limitations others have placed upon their own lives. The vision of your true destiny does not reside within the blinkered outlook of any naysayers or doom prophets, so judge not your cause by their discounting words or doubting glances. Instead, accept what wisdom they might provide with humility, and what non-guidance they inadvertently proffer with gratitude. Be not be surprised should you find a complete absence of anything mystical or miraculous in the manifested reality of those who are so eager to adjust your route or criticize your undertaking. Friends and family who suffer a lack of joy, love, or fulfillment in their own lives really have no business imposing their self-limiting beliefs on your chosen mission or its flagrantly valid reality. No, heed not their calls for premature abandonment or watered-down intentions. Simply love them without condition, and walk boldly on nonetheless.” ~ via Anthon St. Maarten

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