I'm pretty sure that some will chalk up my desire to walk the Camino de Santiago as an example of a mid-life crisis. After all, I am mid-life (actually older than mid-life, since I'm 49 now and actuarial tables say that I probably won't make it to 98), and you could say that I'm in a "crisis." But before you jump to conclusions, let's examine how the word "crisis" is defined, as there are many interpretations for the word. The word "crisis" is from the Greek word κρινειν (krinein) which means "to separate, decide, judge." Merriam-Webster defines it as "an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life." Dictionary.com calls it "a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, esp. for better or for worse, is determined; turning point." So I think that crisis is an excellent word in this case.
We don't want a crisis in our loved ones' lives, and goodness knows we will do anything to avoid a crisis in our own. The word "crisis" seems to mean an embarrassing situation for which we didn't adequately prepare or didn't have the moral backbone to withstand. Hardly! It's a time to critically look at our lives, where they came from, and where they're going. While no one likes to feel unsettled, shouldn't we welcome a crisis? Because if we handle the events well, our lives will be better than they are now. For example, if there's a bully at school, he's not going way. The one being bullied has to stand up to him for the situation to get better.
Often times we don't want people to change. Let's face it, we don't want to change! We have gotten to where we are in our lives by doing what we do, complete with our habits and routines. We prefer the status quo. So when someone in our life decides to change, or when events in our own life force change, we are unnerved. Change means doing something different; it means taking a leap of faith. That is often not a comfortable prospect.
When we have a crisis we don't want anyone to know about it. We fear that everyone will think that we're not as solid as we pretend to be. Truth be told, we sometimes don't mind a crisis in the life of someone else, as that will distract others from looking at our own foibles.
So we try to defuse the crisis, do damage control, and then stuff it in the closet, where the rest of our crises lie. As long as we can shut the door of the closet, we relax, thinking we have successfully managed the situation. But those crises could have provided the impetus to more healthy lifestyles, to new and interesting paths in our lives, and better put our God-given talents and abilities at the service of others.
Probably no one goes out looking for a crisis, but we must always remember that if we deal with a crisis well it can mean a newness and freshness of life that can restore our hope and joy. A crisis puts us at a crossroad -- when we have dealt with it we can better follow the right path for our ourselves.
Dealing with a crisis means using the wisdom that God has given, to see from where we've come and where we're going. To see what we've done well and to rejoice; to see what we've done poorly and to make improvements. It means discerning where we can really leave our mark, and how we can best use the time that we have remaining. It means avoiding the brambles that have ensnared us and following the path to which we've been called.
Don't fear your crises: they are God's wake-up calls to fuller service.
So thank God for this time in my life; also, be thankful that I'm going on the Camino de Santiago and not buying a sports car for this "mid-life crisis!"
-Joseph
P.S.: Let's check our closets today; they may need to be cleaned out!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Walking Instead of Driving
In preparation for making the Camino de Santiago, I am trying to walk as much as possible. Then when I start on the pilgrimage, it will be easier.
I'm working at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. Getting there means a mile walk to the bus stop, then a 15-minute drive to the Metro, and finally a 40-minute subway ride (transferring from the orange to the red line). Getting back home means reversing the process. So it's approximately 90-minutes of travel each way (including roughly three miles of walking).
Normally, one would say, why not just drive? But besides the need to train for the Camino, I can see so much more by walking. There's no doubt that we can get more accomplished by driving everywhere and completing many errands. But often that just leaves us frustrated, anxious and tired. Walking changes the perspective. There's no doubt that we'll get less done, but we'll have more satisfaction, and the sense of being tired will be a wholly natural feeling, one that puts our minds and bodies in sync.
But there are other hidden pleasures with walking. Besides the great feeling that comes from exercise (and this type of exercise doesn't require using a dreaded elliptical machine at a health club) are the wonderful smells that accompany the walker. There's nothing like the smell of a fall morning, or the aroma of a fire burning in a nearby fireplace in the evening. It's hard to beat getting into a warm train after standing on a freezing Metro platform. And there's nothing like returning to a warm home (usually around 7:35 pm) after being out in the cold.
There's no doubt that you'll get less done by walking instead of driving -- but you'll see, feel, hear and experience more!
I'm working at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. Getting there means a mile walk to the bus stop, then a 15-minute drive to the Metro, and finally a 40-minute subway ride (transferring from the orange to the red line). Getting back home means reversing the process. So it's approximately 90-minutes of travel each way (including roughly three miles of walking).
Normally, one would say, why not just drive? But besides the need to train for the Camino, I can see so much more by walking. There's no doubt that we can get more accomplished by driving everywhere and completing many errands. But often that just leaves us frustrated, anxious and tired. Walking changes the perspective. There's no doubt that we'll get less done, but we'll have more satisfaction, and the sense of being tired will be a wholly natural feeling, one that puts our minds and bodies in sync.
But there are other hidden pleasures with walking. Besides the great feeling that comes from exercise (and this type of exercise doesn't require using a dreaded elliptical machine at a health club) are the wonderful smells that accompany the walker. There's nothing like the smell of a fall morning, or the aroma of a fire burning in a nearby fireplace in the evening. It's hard to beat getting into a warm train after standing on a freezing Metro platform. And there's nothing like returning to a warm home (usually around 7:35 pm) after being out in the cold.
There's no doubt that you'll get less done by walking instead of driving -- but you'll see, feel, hear and experience more!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Ευχαριστία
You might be thinking that since I used Latin as a title for my first post, I now am using Greek on the second to try and impress everyone out there. Well, that's not the reason. The title of this post is the word Eucharist in Greek, which means, appropriately enough, Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving has to be our ultimate attitude toward everything in life. It's more than being thankful for all the blessings that we have in our lives (which a great number of people probably did on this special day). It's about seeing every hurdle as an opportunity, about being thankful to God especially when we're in a difficult bind, about being thankful for the little things that give our life meaning and joy.
It's easy to say "Isn't God Good" when something wonderful happens. But can we say "Isn't God Good" when something which we consider inopportune or downright disastrous happens? It's not that we delight in bad fortune, but rather we are thankful for the opportunity to see what God has in store for us in his serendipity.
Think about it -- when we reflect back on our lives, haven't we learned more about ourselves through challenging times than through easy times? Of course we have. So wouldn't it be logical to just be open to and optimistic about the hurdles that come our way? Why? Because we know that they will ultimately teach us so much about ourselves, and will yield a bounty of God's grace.
This is what the Camino de Santiago represents for me. There will be a great deal of adversity along the way, but the grace of God will be omnipresent. What a tremendous opportunity this will be to see God's workings in action. If we want to see God's handiwork, we must confront (and embrace) adversity.
There's no way around it -- life is a journey, through which we must continually give thanks.
-Joseph
Thanksgiving has to be our ultimate attitude toward everything in life. It's more than being thankful for all the blessings that we have in our lives (which a great number of people probably did on this special day). It's about seeing every hurdle as an opportunity, about being thankful to God especially when we're in a difficult bind, about being thankful for the little things that give our life meaning and joy.
It's easy to say "Isn't God Good" when something wonderful happens. But can we say "Isn't God Good" when something which we consider inopportune or downright disastrous happens? It's not that we delight in bad fortune, but rather we are thankful for the opportunity to see what God has in store for us in his serendipity.
Think about it -- when we reflect back on our lives, haven't we learned more about ourselves through challenging times than through easy times? Of course we have. So wouldn't it be logical to just be open to and optimistic about the hurdles that come our way? Why? Because we know that they will ultimately teach us so much about ourselves, and will yield a bounty of God's grace.
This is what the Camino de Santiago represents for me. There will be a great deal of adversity along the way, but the grace of God will be omnipresent. What a tremendous opportunity this will be to see God's workings in action. If we want to see God's handiwork, we must confront (and embrace) adversity.
There's no way around it -- life is a journey, through which we must continually give thanks.
-Joseph
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Ab initio...
The title of this is post means "from the beginning." I phrased it in Latin, as I need all the class that I can muster. I think it sounds kind of snappy.
My name is Joseph Mulroney and this blog is about my going on the Camino de Santiago ("Way of St. James"). If you know nothing about this walking pilgrimage, you can learn more by clicking on the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James
Most people who complete the Camino "only" do the 500 mile (800 km.) segment of it (I say only, because I haven't done any of it yet). This path is called the Camino Francés (the "French Way"), because it leads out from France, crosses the Pyrenees Mountains, and follows along the northern part of Spain to the town of Santiago de Compostela, where many Christians believe that the bones of St. James the Apostle (St. James the Greater) are buried. The path is over 1,000 years old.
I plan on doing 1,000, starting from the French town of Le Puy en Velay (in south-central-eastern France), which is one of the traditional starting spots for the Camino.
Even though my start of the Camino de Santiago is still two months away, preparation is everything. Preparation includes the spiritual and the physical, as this will be a very demanding path in both respects. I have to be prepared for all the spiritual challenges, as well as the physical ones. While walking 1,000 miles sounds daunting enough, I'm sure that the spiritual challenges will be far worse (like the Devil getting in my head, telling me to quit, telling me that I'm no good, etc.). I'm a little nervous about doing this, as I have little hiking experience, and have never attempted anything this imposing before.
How long is 1,000 miles? It's akin to walking from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA -- or Washington, DC to Fort Myers, FL -- or San Diego, CA to Corvallis, OR. Wow, when I think of those distances, all of this does sound intimidating!
I plan on leaving Tuesday, January 25, 2011. This gives me two very important months to prepare.
Some very generous friends gave me some nice gifts, allowing me to purchase the gear that I'll need to make this trek. It's not about having the latest gear, but packing light and having good gear that will get you through the trip.
Pray for me. It is said that "Fools rush in where angels fear to trod!" Time will tell.
-Joseph
My name is Joseph Mulroney and this blog is about my going on the Camino de Santiago ("Way of St. James"). If you know nothing about this walking pilgrimage, you can learn more by clicking on the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James
Most people who complete the Camino "only" do the 500 mile (800 km.) segment of it (I say only, because I haven't done any of it yet). This path is called the Camino Francés (the "French Way"), because it leads out from France, crosses the Pyrenees Mountains, and follows along the northern part of Spain to the town of Santiago de Compostela, where many Christians believe that the bones of St. James the Apostle (St. James the Greater) are buried. The path is over 1,000 years old.
I plan on doing 1,000, starting from the French town of Le Puy en Velay (in south-central-eastern France), which is one of the traditional starting spots for the Camino.
Even though my start of the Camino de Santiago is still two months away, preparation is everything. Preparation includes the spiritual and the physical, as this will be a very demanding path in both respects. I have to be prepared for all the spiritual challenges, as well as the physical ones. While walking 1,000 miles sounds daunting enough, I'm sure that the spiritual challenges will be far worse (like the Devil getting in my head, telling me to quit, telling me that I'm no good, etc.). I'm a little nervous about doing this, as I have little hiking experience, and have never attempted anything this imposing before.
How long is 1,000 miles? It's akin to walking from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA -- or Washington, DC to Fort Myers, FL -- or San Diego, CA to Corvallis, OR. Wow, when I think of those distances, all of this does sound intimidating!
I plan on leaving Tuesday, January 25, 2011. This gives me two very important months to prepare.
Some very generous friends gave me some nice gifts, allowing me to purchase the gear that I'll need to make this trek. It's not about having the latest gear, but packing light and having good gear that will get you through the trip.
Pray for me. It is said that "Fools rush in where angels fear to trod!" Time will tell.
-Joseph
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)