Not a few times on the Camino I reflected on what I considered to be the best part of the trip: there was something new around every bend in the road.
As much as we hate uncertainty, with a degree of security in place, the unknown becomes a magical place. With no set goal, other than the personal enjoyment and achievement of just doing it, the Camino, with every bend, offered an opportunity to see something I’d never seen before – a small amount of awe to soak up and enjoy (mostly) in silence. The most consistent soundtrack on the Camino was the chirping of the birds – it was perfect!
As these things often go, the full weight of this beauty didn’t hit me until I was home – back on predictable ground. Predictability is nice at times and often comforting, but predictability isn’t about the future, it’s about the past.
Every time we got turned around on the Camino, losing sight of the guiding arrows, it was a reminder that only by looking forward could we reach our destination. Tears welled up in my eyes as we reached the Cathedral in Santiago De Compostela. Only through the ‘in real-life’ experience could the magnitude and beauty of the Cathedral truly be appreciated.
