So far I have met people from Canada, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, India, The Netherlands, Belgium, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, France, Lithuania, South Korea, The Philippines, Australia, and the United States of America.
I have asked people why they are making the Camino. Now some may answer differently if you don't know them well rather than if you did.
Also, most are not on this pilgrimage for reasons that I would consider directly spiritual. Indirectly, yes, but not directly.
I haven't met anyone yet who has told me that he or she is making this pilgrimage for penitential reasons (i.e. that they are making this a sacrifice so that God would hopefully forgive their sins). This differs dramatically from medieval times, when making this pilgrimage was done primarily for that reason. It could be too that no one wants to admit this!
One reason that a good number of people use is that they're at a crossroads in life. They yearn to start a new stage in their life, or perhaps a new career. Maybe it's just doing what they've already been doing in a fresher, more life-giving way.
Crossroads offer challenges and opportunities. If we find ourselves at a crossroads then we should make he most of it. Don' fear it or avoid it: accept it and deal with it.
There have been numerous times on the Camino where I've found myself at a fork in the road, and didn't know which way was the correct path. I used my logic, then I took my best guess. If I didn't see a trail sign soon I knew I was going in the wrong direction. Sometimes the trail sign (the confirmation) didn't come for a half-mile (forever for a hiker). If the new trail isn't working we head back and follow the correct path. But we have to give it a chance and not just dismiss it.
God never calls us to a boring routine, or the "Same-old, same-old". Rather he calls us to live with zeal and joy, using this precious gift of life that He has given us to the full.
Many are looking for guidance from the Camino… that walking the Camino will give them the answers that they've been seeking. Some are frustrated that the answers don't come right away. Well, think of it this way. When you're a child, do you know that you're growing? It's the same on the Camino. Everyone is growing, though we don't know how.
Some make the Camino to have an adventure. That's a good reason, as we all need one. Without an adventure we fall into ruts, where we think it's comfortable, but in fact we're not going anywhere.
A few make the Camino multiple times, looking for an answer that seems to evade them.
So, there is no ONE reason that people use to make the Camino de Santiago, but there are many individual ones.
Please pray for the hikers. They have shown great courage in venturing out, to find a new relationship with God and others.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
