Day 078h: An ode to Orisson … (July 01, 2019)
I easily arrived at Orisson, the same hostel where I had spent my first night on my first Camino back in 2008, and the spirits are high for most if not all my fellow pilgrims there. For those who have not done much long-distance walking, the relatively steep, 5-mile trek up the Pyrenees from St. Jean to this point is an arduous one, without question, and the natural relief many feel at accomplishing this not-small feat is palpable. Even though Jean Marc was not allowed to buy me any bread (there were no options on the standard menu that didn’t come with non-vegan ingredients, and the hospitaleros on duty were staunchly reluctant to sell anyone bread on its own), I was in fine spirits myself witnessing the beautiful joy emanating from so many pilgrims from so many corners of the the globe. I had intended to create and give the hostel a Peace Stone no matter how I was received (they had been extremely kind to so many when I had stayed there those 11 years ago), and so I created and gave them the same; telling them that this was an anniversary of sorts of the great kindness they had shown me the first time I had walked The Way. Sincerely impressed with the gesture, their overall affect towards me shifted completely, and all those who witnessed that exuberant exchange were clearly affected for the better. Thereafter I enjoyed what was to be the last of the many coffees Jean Marc had provided me on this Walk, and some bread was even joyfully donated by other pilgrims sitting nearby. The fellowship was strong here in this room on this day – with pilgrims from so many distant lands (including Argentina & Germany & Belgium & even Taiwan) generously breaking bread and amicably sharing in heartfelt conversation. Maybe there is hope for our species yet …
“It is true that in every human interaction, all souls involved are uniquely different. And yet in times of friendship or love – when any of the same is willingly giving to another, the two raise hands & hearts side by side together, and thereby rediscover what one cannot ever hope to attain alone.” ~ via Kahlil Gibran
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