This Place is for the Birds

I walked alongside a river today, with a beautiful wildflower garden alongside me. But the birdsong was my favourite part.  I think the birds are taking over the countryside and farming villages - I sure don't see many people around!  Large birds that look like our Great Blue Herons happily nest in the church bell towers, which actually chime on the hour. Roosters crow in all the little villages, too!  

All day long I'm serenaded by cuckoos and doves and countless other happy little birds cheering me on. In between that and chocolate, I can walk forever. 

Tonight my friend Vito cooked me a fabulous meal and the we shared cake with a group celebrating a birthday on the Camino. So many different ages, nationalities and life stories... Never a dull moment. 

Also this evening I took part in a small mass in this convent I'm staying in overnight. I am so moved by the passion these people have for their faith. The love and dedication they embody humbles me and brings me to tears. In the light of their grace, my personal religion seems rather shallow and self absorbed. I have much to learn about faith and love and commitment. 

There's something about this walk that moves many of us to tears readily. Perhaps there's a collective energy resulting from so many individuals throughout the history that have walked these exact same steps. All of us moving in one common direction,  all of us open to learn and be humbled. It feels like I'm walking in the safest and yet most precarious place on earth. Safe in that I am not alone - all these people (past & present) are on some level sharing a similar journey with me. The commonality of the experience results in abundant respect, love and camaraderie. But there is a perilous element to this pilgrimage because I am asking for change and trying to be open to accept it, however it presents itself. Change is frightening and can be painful. There must be loss to make room for growth. Am I prepared to reformat my reality?  What will i lose and what will i gain?