I dream of walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela one day. The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.
Movies like Wild and The Way illustrate the appeal of walking this grueling distance. Some seek union with God in nature, devoid of the distractions of television, internet or devices. Others feel lost. They don’t know what to do next.
Take what you need
One of the necessities of this pilgrimage is to take only what you need. I read a story about a pilgrim who tore the pages out of his book, that he’d read each day before continuing on the trail. This seems like sacrilege to a book lover like me but if I look beyond the surface of his action, you see that he is only taking what he needs for the journey. He is intentionally lightening his load, a little bit at a time.
In recovery circles, steps 6 & 7 are difficult steps to take. Resentment, fear, self-pity and intolerance are the rocks that weigh us down. We hold onto fear or pick up a resentment and without realizing it, the load that we carry grows heavier.
Pilgrims on a pilgrimage use the example of rocks to symbolize the burdens they carry. Picking up a rock for each fear, resentment, intolerance or self-pity (character defects) raises our awareness of what really happens when we try to maintain control (illusion of control).
So, I ask you, What are you choosing to carry?
Leave the Rest Behind
Before the holidays come, create a list of your ‘rocks’. Then pick up a stone to represent each item on your list and take a walk around the block. Notice where your attention rests. Now take another loop around your block, is there a stone that you could release back to God? Can you put it down? I encourage you to keep walking with the stones until you can let go of them. Notice what YOU are doing. Notice how each addition or subtraction feels. This is where your power lies.
Remember, you can find God in ALL things. With empty hands, you are free to see him without distraction.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28